Dirk Nowitzki will be taking a massive pay cut this season _ not that that's anything new for him.
Nowitzki and the Mavericks on Thursday were close to agreeing on a two-year contract that would pay him $5 million per season, with the second year at the Mavericks' option, two sources said.
It's essentially the same contract he signed last summer, just for $20 million less. The second season of last year's deal was only guaranteed for $5 million.
Retaining Nowitzki was a formality. It will be his 20th season, all with the Mavericks and the only question was how much of a hometown discount he would give them.
Contracts can be signed anytime now as the moratorium period ended at 11 a.m. Thursday.
What Nowitzki's deal does is free up enough money to make sure the Mavericks can match any offer restricted free agent Nerlens Noel gets, even if some team ponies up with the maximum $24.75 million.
The Mavericks and Noel still are in negotiations.
Nowitzki has given the Mavericks steep discounts in the past and last year, when other free-agent dealings didn't pan out, he was rewarded with the $25 million deal.
He's been the face of the franchise for nearly two decades _ and has given no indication that this season will be for sure his last.
