The summer-long trend of the Mavericks’ travel itineraries getting weird continued on Thursday when Dirk Nowitzki informed his club that he would not be able to arrive in Dallas until Friday, one day after the start of the free-agency period. Dallas-based reporter Art Garcia of NBA.com says, via Twitter, that the delay is “not due to any unexpected problems.” So maybe there’s nothing to worry about.
The news appears to worry Tim McMahon of ESPN Dallas, who says Dirk’s lack of urgency may cost the Mavs as they try to recruit anther superstar free agent:
The Mavs have no chance of attracting another star-caliber free agent via sign-and-trade unless/until Dirk’s deal gets done. Donnie Nelson has publicly acknowledged as much. They’re losing valuable time as Dirk makes his way to Dallas from Germany.