HoopsHype.com Rumors

On Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Dirk Nowitzki: We'd love to get one of those two. We'd love to get a player in here who can create his own shot and be a superstar-type player. It's still a long way to go until July. Those guys need to clear their minds a little bit and get away and then start thinking what they want to do with their futures. Hopefully, that's where we come in and put a great pitch out there and see what happens. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard 

On the pitch to free agents. Dirk Nowitzki: I'll definitely be a little involved. But I'll be in the draft 'war room' for the first time ... order some pizza and talk some basketball. I got one year left on this deal and then I'm coming off the books. So if that helps for us to be better I'm going to take a paycut. That's part of the pitch. Cuban and Donnie have got to be part of the pitch. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Draft, Dirk Nowitzki 

On Golden State's Stephen Curry. Dirk Nowitzki: I'm a huge fan. When he's on, in most of these third quarters, I'm yelling at the TV - 'Shoot!' Don't even pass. As soon as he crosses half court, I want him to pull up. There's a lot of great spot-up shooters in this league. But he knows how to shoot spot up, off the dribble. To me, he's one of the best shooters we have in the league right now. Not a lot of people can shoot the threes off the dribble like he can. He's fun to watch. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Dirk Nowitzki, Stephen Curry 

It just proves he’s like every other man and doesn’t like to shave when he doesn’t have to. He had just returned from a Caribbean trip and was looking tanned, by the way. And fit. Upon his return, Nowitzki is already on his off-season maintenance program. He wants no repeat of the last two seasons physically, so he’s doing the right things. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Ran into Dirk Nowitzki at the Mavericks' offices and guess what? He must have secretly liked that beard because the scraggly growth is back. Not in the small-birds-could-live-in-there quantity that his facial hair grew to during the Mavericks' vow to not shave during the season until they got back to .500. But there was significant growth. It just proves he's like every other man and doesn't like to shave when he doesn't have to. He had just returned from a Caribbean trip and was looking tanned, by the way. And fit, by the way. Upon his return, Nowitzki is already on his off-season maintenance program. He wants no repeat of the last two seasons physically, so he's doing the right things. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Only five men in the history of the NBA have done it, but with a strong close to his career 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki could be poised to join that exclusive brotherhood before his playing days are done. In the annuals of the league’s scoring ranks only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain have ever amassed at least 30,000 points in their illustrious careers. But, after becoming just the 17th member of the 25,000-point club on April 14 with 19 points in a 107-89 road win in New Orleans, Nowitzki could be positioned to be the first European to reach the rarest of milestones. “It’s tough. I mean, I don’t know how much time it takes for me to get five (thousand), but I’m going to be around,” Nowitzki said after becoming only the ninth player in league history to score 25,000 points while also collecting 9,000 rebounds in his career. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

“Yeah, I mean, it would sound nice, but I don’t know if that would be something that would keep me going on one leg at 41,” Nowitzki joked as he shifted his focus from that mythical 30,000 figure. “If it’s not fun anymore to drag around just to get to 30, I don’t think that’s what I’m about. If it comes in the next couple of years, that’ll be great. But if not, that’s fine, too. You know, I play to win here my last couple of years. I have one more year on my contract and then I’m 36. Probably sign one more deal and then just probably wind it down, so we’ll just have to wait and see how long it goes. But as long as I feel like this, I can still feel like I can play some decent basketball and contribute to a good team, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens this summer.” NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash is very happy that his friend -- Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki -– is about to become a father for the first time. Nowitzki said his wife, Jessica, is slated to give birth to the couple's first child in the latter part of this summer. “I’m thrilled for him,’’ Nash told the Star-Telegram after Monday’s practice at the Texas Military Institute. “I told him how pumped I am for him and how excited I am. “It’s going to be such a thrill for him and Jessica. He’s going to be a great dad.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki 

“He’s got a big heart, so he’ll be a great dad,’’ Nash said. “The only advice I have to him is to know that it’s the hardest thing he’ll ever do, so it’s something you really have to work hard at.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki 

Do you remember the last time you guys didn't make the playoffs? Dirk Nowitzki: I remember that was my second year and that's when Cuban bought the team. We brought (Dennis) Rodman in for a stint. They asked him in the paper, 'What do you think this team needs to do to move forward?' And he said 'Well they need a new point guard, a new shooting guard, a new power forward and a new center and a new owner. Other than that, they're ready to go.' And Cuban said, 'That's a bit much.' And then he yanked him the next day after that interview. He was there for maybe 10 games. We finished the season really strong. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Rodman 

Dirk Nowitzki: "I belong to this city. That’s just the bottom line. I could never see myself playing for another franchise, putting another jersey on. That would be probably the hardest thing I’d have to do in my life. I want to stay here, but I also want to play at a high level with a good team that we can be proud of and represent this city and this franchise.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Nowitzki, who intends to sign a two- or three-year deal when his current contract expires after next season, is willing to do anything he can to help the Mavs recruit free agents this summer. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Dirk Nowitzki 

Nowitzki plans to ride it out in Dallas until he retires, which is at least three years away. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Mark Followill: On his future, Dirk: "I belong to this city. I can't see playing anywhere else." Dirk I guess getting inspiration for quotes from Glenn Frey Twitter @MFollowill

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Earl K. Sneed: Dirk will be in Dallas most of the summer due to the birth of his first child but is willing to travel to recruit a free agent. Twitter @EKS_MavsNBA

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Dirk Nowitzki 

Earl K. Sneed: Dirk says he will be in the Mavs' draft war room. "I heard they order pizza." Twitter @EKS_MavsNBA

Dallas Mavericks, Draft, Dirk Nowitzki 

Earl K. Sneed: After a preseason scope on his right knee, Dirk Nowitzki has already got an MRI in his left knee to know going into the summer. Twitter @EKS_MavsNBA

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Injuries 

The Mavs, depending on Mayo’s decision and the salary cap figure the NBA sets, will have somewhere between $13 million and $18.7 million in spending money this summer -- unless they create more space with salary-dump deals. They need significant upgrades to have a serious chance of competing at the level they had become accustomed to over the previous dozen seasons. “I’ve been saying it all season long: It’s a big summer for us,” said Dirk Nowitzki, who is the only player guaranteed to return to Dallas next season. “We’ll see what Mark and Donnie can come up with. They’re always geniuses at making stuff happen. We need a big summer, obviously, to compete again for the championship and not for the eighth seed.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Trade, Dirk Nowitzki 

Earl K. Sneed: Dirk: “To be 10 games under .500 wasn’t pretty, but I’m actually proud of the guys how we finished the season.” Twitter @EKS_MavsNBA

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Nowitzki has averaged 1,666 points per year during his 15 NBA seasons. At that rate, he could reach 30,000 in just over three seasons, but as this season has shown, Father Time inevitably exacts a toll on season averages. This season, he had arthroscopic knee surgery in October and missed the first 27 games. He has played only 51 games, totaling 875 points. Last year’s lockout-shortened season didn’t help Nowitzki’s chances of reaching 30,000. He scored 1,342 points in 62 games. “That’s tough,” Nowitzki said with smile, when asked about his chances of reaching 30,000 points. “I don’t know how much time it takes for me to get (5,000 points), but I’m going to be around. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki