NBA Free Agents: Staying Home

Here are NBA Free Agents that agreed to multi-year deal with the one and only team except Joe Johnson but will likely to retire as Hawks

Dirk Nowitzki
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Dirk Nowitzki sealed the deal on a new contract over the holiday weekend and will remain with the Dallas Mavericks. The Metroplex can take a deep breath and relax because the thought of losing Dirk would set the franchise back for several years. As the ink of the paper is drying on his new deal, let's go ahead and indulge in some Dirk-Love.

The deal for Dirk and Nowitzki

The biggest news to come out of his new contract is that Dirk turned down the maximum amount of money that could be offered to him. The contract could have maxed out at 4 years and 96 million dollars but he took 4 years at roughly 80 million dollars. Why would someone take less money? Because Nowitzki understands the Mavericks financial situation. Dallas is well over the salary cap and has luxury tax issues. The Mavericks are a sports organization, but it's still a business and that business carries a traditional budget. He understands that there is an internal budget Cuban has created and he can now use that extra 16 million dollars, over the next four years, and use it on assets to help make the Mavericks team better. Dirk understood that if he sacrificed his own money, it could help lead to the ultimate goal for Dirk and the franchise: an NBA title. In the modern-day sports world, stars hold out for extra money and demand a "me before team" lifestyle. Dirk is clearly an exception to the rule and shows that he gets "it."

A total unconditional sacrifice, it's not about the money.