Dirk Nowitzki and Mavericks say let's make a deal

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki had a good day Saturday.

First, Germany waxed Argentina in the World Cup.

Then, he agreed to terms on a new four-year contract with the Mavericks.

Break out the vuvuzelas.

While everybody involved figured there was never a reason for concern, it still was a sigh of relief for Mavericks nation when Nowitzki and adviser Holger Geschwindner agreed to the deal that will keep the 7-foot power forward in Dallas until 2014.

"Yes, we have a deal," Geschwindner said late Saturday.

Though terms were not immediately known, the contract could be worth as much as $96 million for four years.

It was unknown if Nowitzki took less money to make it a little more owner-friendly and allow Mark Cuban to make serious pitches at key free agents via sign-and-trade scenarios. Nowitzki has said previously that he would do so if it helped land prime talent alongside him.

The Mavericks did not respond to interview requests. Nowitzki can officially sign the deal Thursday, when the seven-day moratorium on contracts ends.

Nowitzki opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have payed him more than $21 million, and became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.

In the end, his loyalty to the Mavericks, and vice-versa, was too great for Nowitzki to visit with any other team that might have interest in him. Nowitzki now seems like a good bet to finish his career as a rare, one-team player.

The deal is believed to include a no-trade clause that Nowitzki qualified for because of his years of service with the Mavericks and the fact that this is a new contract, not an extension.

Nowitzki, 32, was the league's MVP in 2007 and came within two wins of a championship in 2006.

With Nowitzki locked up, the Mavericks can ramp up attempts to enter into sign-and-trade agreements, or traditional trades, if they present themselves.

There are a few straight trades that would make sense for the Mavericks.

If they feel the need to target a center to hedge their bet if Brendan Haywood goes elsewhere, the Mavericks could trade Erick Dampier and his nonguaranteed contract to Charlotte for Tyson Chandler, who has one year left on his deal. That would happen only if the Bobcats are seeking salary-cap relief and may require the Mavericks to add an additional player to make the swap palatable to Michael Jordan's team.