Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 24 – NBA Blog

Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245) will return for his 20th season with the Mavericks in 2017-18, joining Kobe Bryant (Lakers) as the sole members of the NBA’s 20-year, only one-team club.

During his 19-year career in Dallas, Nowitzki has guided the Mavericks to many of the franchise’s greatest achievements. Nowitzki led Dallas to its first-ever 60 win season in 2002-03, its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, a franchise-high 67 wins in 2006-07 and the organization’s first NBA championship in 2011. He also led the Mavericks to the playoffs 15 times in a 16-year span (from 2001 to 2016).

Nowitzki, who has scored 30,260 points in his illustrious career, is the NBA’s top foreign-born scorer of all-time, the league’s active leading scorer and the longest tenured player with one team.

In addition to appearing in a franchise-record 13 NBA All-Star Games, Nowitzki earned 12 consecutive All-NBA Team selections (2000-12), was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and voted MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. He is a six-time Western Conference Player of the Month, a 17-time Western Conference Player of the Week and has competed in the All-Star Saturday Night Three-Point Contest four times. Nowitzki was also the recipient of the 2014 Magic Johnson Award and the 2017 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

The career Maverick holds averages of 21.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 34.9 minutes in 1,394 career games (1,363 starts). He is the franchise leader in several different categories including points (30,260), rebounds (10,893), field goals made (10,688), 3-pointers made (1,780), free throws made (7,104), games played (1,394), games started (1,363) and minutes played (48,673).

In the NBA Playoffs, Nowitzki’s game elevates to averages of 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 40.6 minutes in 145 postseason contests (all starts). He has led the Mavericks to three Western Conference Finals appearances and two NBA Finals berths while moving into first place on several of the franchise’s postseason categories including points (3,663), rebounds (1,446), assists (360), blocks (129), steals (149), field goals made (1,220), free throws made (1,074) and games played (145).

Last season, Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history and the first international player to reach the 30,000-point plateau against the L.A. Lakers on March 7. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) in the NBA’s exclusive 30,000-point club. Nowitzki also became just the third player in league history to score 30,000 points with one franchise, joining Malone (Jazz) and Bryant (Lakers).

Nowitzki has also served as a pioneer for European players, becoming the first European-born player to earn First Team All-NBA honors (2004-05), start an All-Star Game (2007, Las Vegas) and be named MVP (2006-07).

The Wurzburg, Germany, native was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and was acquired through a draft day trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks on Oct. 22, 2001. He then signed a contract extension with Dallas on Sept. 26, 2006, re-signed on July 9, 2010, re-signed again on July 15, 2014 and re-signed once more on July 27, 2016.

Mavericks sign rookie Dennis Smith Jr

The Dallas Mavericks have signed first-round pick Dennis Smith Jr. to his rookie contract.

Smith (6-3, 195) was selected by Dallas with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after spending one season at North Carolina State. In his lone season at NC State, Smith averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 71.5 percent from the foul line.

The guard was named Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and All-ACC Second Team after leading the league in assists (13th nationally) and finishing sixth in the conference in scoring. Smith also registered an NC State freshman-record with 62 steals (1.94 spg).

The Fayetteville, N.C., native played at Trinity Christian School where he was averaged 22.2 points per game on his way to being named North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.

Smith is set to compete for the Mavericks’ summer league squad at MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas.

Mavericks sign Johnathan Motley to two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Johnathan Motley to a two-way contract. An explanation of that type of contract is below.

Motley (6-10, 230) went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after three seasons at Baylor (2014-17). As a junior, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game en route to being named Baylor’s first-ever consensus All-American, taking home second-team honors.

What’s more, Motley was selected as the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year, becoming first Baylor player to win a major individual award. He was also BU’s first consensus first-team All-Big 12 honoree.

The 6-10 forward is currently competing for the Mavericks’ Orlando summer league team. In two games, Motley is averaging 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 block per contest.

A native of Houston, Motley led North Shore High School to back-to-back district championships his junior and senior years.

The 2017-18 season will mark the first year NBA two-way contracts will be implemented. NBA teams are allowed to have up to two players under two-way contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team.

Two-way players are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. Only players with four-or-fewer years of NBA experience are able to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Mavericks trade Jarrod Uthoff to Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks have traded forward Jarrod Uthoff to the Houston Rockets in exchange for cash considerations.

Uthoff (6-10, 220) appeared in nine games for Dallas as a rookie last season, averaging 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 12.8 minutes per game.

Uthoff signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Mavericks on March 9 and 19, and then a multi-year deal with the club on March 29.

The undrafted forward out of Iowa also appeared in a combined 37 D-League games (nine starts) with the Raptors 905, Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Texas Legends last season, averaging 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per game.

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Uthoff averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.6 blocks per game for the Hawkeyes as a senior in 2015-16 en route to earning First Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All-America honors.

Mavericks trade DeAndre Liggins to Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks have traded guard DeAndre Liggins to the Houston Rockets in exchange for cash considerations.

Liggins most recently spent the majority of 2016-17 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Cleveland, he saw action in 61 games (19 starts) and averaged 2.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 12.3 minutes per contest. The Cavaliers requested waivers on Liggins on April 9, 2017 and was awarded to the Mavericks in time to play the final game of the season. In that game, he registered 8 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes to help the Mavericks defeat the Memphis Grizzlies.

Liggins (6-6, 209) was originally drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 53rd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 2.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 9.9 minutes in 119 career games (20 starts) with Orlando, Oklahoma City, Miami, Cleveland and Dallas.

The Chicago native played three seasons at the University of Kentucky. As a junior, Liggins averaged 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 31.6 minutes as a starter while helping lead the Wildcats to the NCCA Final Four in Houston.

Yogi Ferrell named to All-Rookie Second Team

The NBA announced today that guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In 36 games (29 starts) with the Mavericks, Ferrell averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 29.0 minutes while shooting .412 from the field, .403 from behind-the-arc and .877 from the free throw line.

Ferrell (6-0, 180) originally signed a 10-day contract on Jan. 28 and helped the Mavericks to a 4-1 record during that stint including the sweep of a pivotal back-to-back at San Antonio (1/29) and vs. Cleveland (1/30). The Mavericks signed Ferrell to a multi-year contract on Feb. 7.

The 6-foot point guard out of Indiana scored a career-high 32 points (11-17 FGs, 9-11 3FGs, 1-2s FTs) and a team-high five assists at Portland (2/3) to become the first undrafted rookie in NBA history to score 30-plus points and also lead his team in assists. After connecting on nine 3-pointers at Portland, Ferrell tied the NBA’s rookie record for 3-pointers in a single game, originally set by the Mavericks’ own Roddy Beaubois (at GS, 3/27/10), and joined 2017 All-Stars Stephen Curry, James Harden and Isaiah Thomas as one of only four players to hit nine 3-pointers in a single game this season.

After his impressive February, the NBA named him Western Conference Rookie of the Month.

Mavericks add DeAndre Liggins

The Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday were awarded guard DeAndre Liggins via a waiver claim.

Liggins (6-6, 209) was originally drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 53rd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 2.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 9.8 minutes in 118 career games (20 starts) with Orlando, Oklahoma City, Miami and Cleveland.

Liggins most recently spent the majority of the year with the Cavaliers. This season in Cleveland, he saw action in 61 games (19 starts) and averaged 2.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 12.3 minutes per contest. The Cavaliers requested waivers on Liggins this past Sunday.

Liggins will wear number 14 for the Mavericks.

Tony Romo joining Dallas Mavericks for a day

The Dallas Mavericks had a rough season and face an uncertain future, but for one day they’re going to have fun and let Tony Romo, a football player, suit up and presumably amuse the fans. Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting:

Tony Romo’s football career appears to be over, but he’ll be a professional athlete for at least one more game.

Sources have confirmed an ESPN report that Romo will be a Dallas Maverick for a day.

Romo will be in full uniform for the Mavericks’ final home game of the season Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets. The former Cowboys franchise quarterback has frequently attended Mavericks games throughout his NFL career.

Seth Curry return date uncertain

As the season winds down, it would be nice for the Mavs to get one more dose of action from guard Seth Curry. But his return date isn’t known yet. Here’s the Dallas Morning News with the latest:

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said he doesn’t expect guard Seth Curry to miss all of the remaining four games, but he was unsure when he might return.

Curry sat out the last three games and the hope is that another day of rest Thursday will allow him to play Friday against the Spurs.

“I don’t have a medical degree,” Carlisle said. “But it’s a bruise. The thing keeps getting hit. We want to get him some more games with all the progress he’s made this year. We want him and all our players to finish strong.”

Mavericks sign Jarrod Uthoff to multi-year contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed rookie forward Jarrod Uthoff to a multi-year contract.

Uthoff (6-9, 220) originally signed a 10-day contract with the Mavericks on March 9 and then a second 10-day deal with the team on March 19.

The 6-9 forward has seen action in two games for the Mavericks this year and has logged a total of 5 minutes. He has also appeared in two games (both starts) for the Mavericks’ D-League affiliate Texas Legends in 2016-17, averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.6 minutes.

Uthoff went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and signed as a rookie free agent with the Toronto Raptors. He appeared in one preseason game for the Raptors before being waived on Oct. 22. He was acquired by the Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League on Oct. 30 and was traded the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Jan. 27.

In a combined 37 D-League games (nine starts) with the 905, Mad Ants and Legends this season, Uthoff averaged 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.4 minutes.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native played collegiately at the University of Iowa. As a senior, he earned First Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All-America honors while averaging 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.6 blocks.