Add the Dallas Mavericks to the ever-growing list of teams expected to court Carmelo Anthony this summer.
ESPN.com reported last month that the Mavs are one of the few teams that will get to have a face-to-face meeting with ‘Melo. And recently, their superstar gave the team his blessing to go after the All-Star forward.
In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, Dirk Nowitzki said if Anthony is willing to come to Dallas, the team would “love to have him.” Nowitzki said said he can win with anybody, despite position or skill-set, and he’s willing to take on a different role to make room for ‘Melo.
“If Carmelo would really love to come here,” Dirk says, “we’d love to have him.”
“Listen, I think I’e showed over my 16 years that I can play with anybody,” the UberMan says. “The only tough season I think we’ve had is when we had (Antawn) Jamison and Antoine Walker and myself who are all three kind of the same 4-men, but other than that I think I’ve shown over my career that I can play with anybody. I’ll adjust, whether I have to get out of the way or go to the corner more, post up, pass — I’ll do whatever, really, that needs to be done out there to win or for this franchise to be a winner.”
The Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets were reported to be the “clear front-runners” in the Anthony sweepstakes, but unlike either one of those two suitors, the Mavericks can offer a maximum contract.
However, the team also much re-sign Nowitzki, but based on his comments it appears as if he is willing to accept a pay reduction in order to make room for Anthony.
Dallas made the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference this season, but was bounced out by the champion San Antonio Spurs. The team also has decisions to make about impending free agents Brandan Wright, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington and Shane Larkin.
