Nowitzki Questions Role as Mavericks Reshape Front Office
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Dirk Nowitzki said uncertainty surrounding his position with the Dallas Mavericks has led him to step back from the special-adviser role he accepted in 2021.
Speaking on a recent radio program, the Hall of Famer explained that the 2023 sale of the franchise has blurred lines of authority. “It felt a little weird not knowing my role,” Nowitzki told Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “So since then, I’ve kind of pulled back again.”
Nowitzki added that ownership must demonstrate a willingness to invest after trading Luka Dončić and selecting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in June. “The owner has to show that he’s willing to spend and then make this a great team for the next decade to come,” he said.
Mark Cuban Also Feels Sidelined
Former majority owner Mark Cuban echoed similar sentiments during a recent panel discussion, according to The Athletic. “There were some things that happened internally where the person who traded Luka didn’t want me there,” Cuban said. “So, they won. I lost.” Cuban expected to retain a voice in basketball matters after the sale but now believes pulling back was a mistake.
Outlook Remains Upbeat
Despite the organizational shifts, Nowitzki expressed confidence in the roster, citing new contracts for Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. “I think they’re deep, they’re doubled on every position,” he told Afseth. “If they’re fully healthy, hopefully by the new year, somewhere in January they’re a super-deep team that can definitely be in the top four in the West.”
The Dallas Morning News columnist Mike Curtis offered a similar forecast, calling the Southwest Division “as competitive as any” while projecting Dallas to finish second behind Houston after the Rockets’ acquisition of Kevin Durant.
Source: Hoops Rumors
