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Nowitzki, Howard nix deals to become free agents
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DALLAS Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki and Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will become National Basketball Association free agents on July 1 after opting out of contracts on Tuesday.
German star Nowitzki, who turned 38 on Sunday, had a US$8.7 million offer for next season to stay with the Mavericks, with whom he won the NBA title in 2011.
Howard informed the Rockets he will decline a US$23.2 million player option. The 30-year-old has been nagged with back problems in recent years.
Nowitzki has spent his entire 18-year career with the Mavericks and might yet re-sign with Dallas, although NBA finals runner-up Golden State is among those who might be interested in the 13-time All-Star.
Nowitzki, a former NBA and NBA finals Most Valuable Player, ranks sixth on the league’s all-time scoring list with 29,491 points and could pass Wilt Chamberlain for fifth next season.
The Rockets have hired Mike D’Antoni as their new coach and Howard was not a fan of D’Antoni’s system when he played under him for one season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Howard averaged 13.7 points last season, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with Orlando in 2004-05, and 11.8 rebounds a game. He has career averages of 17.8 points and 12.7 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons.
The Knicks will have the money to be a player in free agency deals after forwards Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams said they would opt out of their contracts, giving New York over US$30 million in cap space.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Ben Simmons appears set to be chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers with the top selection in tomorrow’s NBA Draft, based on reports and his own actions.
The 19-year-old forward from Melbourne, who played US college basketball last season at Louisiana State, has been told by the 76ers that he will be their choice with the top pick, Cleveland.com reported on Tuesday.
Simmons, who has the same agent as new three-time NBA champion LeBron James of the Cavaliers, has been working out in Cleveland ahead of the draft. His only workout for a club was a private session on Tuesday for the 76ers, with Simmons saying was in Philadelphia to “introduce myself”.
The 76ers have not had the top pick in the NBA Draft since they chose star guard Allen Iverson in 1996.
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