NBA trade rumors: Golden State Warriors to go after Dirk Nowitzki?

Dirk Nowitzki in 2009Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

Following their defeat during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, a report from Mercury News states that team owner Joe Lacob and General Manager Bob Myers will be extra aggressive in pursuing roster changes during the off-season. A part of this reportedly involves nabbing Dirk Nowitzki from free agency. 

According to the report, the main goal is still to recruit Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. However, Durant is more likely going to sign a new deal with Oklahoma City once they offer a better contract than the one he recently declined. There are also chances of Durant being pulled in to other high-paying teams such as the L.A. Lakers.

If Durant indeed becomes unavailable then the Warriors are speculated to chase after Nowitzki, who is most notable for earning a championship when playing with Dallas back in 2011. Since then, however, Nowitzki has not yet made it to the post-season games again.

Nowitzki is a pending free agent who has played for the Dallas Mavericks his whole career and it is indicated he has no intentions of leaving the club any time soon. However, the possibility of Nowitzki leaving Dallas behind may open if the team does not introduce a new big-time player and if they also lose Chandler Parsons in the free agency.

The report also points out that if Nowitzki is indeed pursued he will be given the option to do as he pleases, whether he wants to be filled in as one of the team's starting players, to play off the bench, to remain in the hot seats until the latter quarters of a game or such. This type of flexible deal is rumored to be enough to entice Nowitzki to leave Dallas.

However, the Warriors will need to offer Nowitzki more than $8.6 million as that is the current amount he is set to earn if he re-signs with Dallas.