Mavs Media Day Highlights

Here is a selection of some of the best quotes from Monday's Mavericks Media Day from players and coaches.

Rick Carlisle
On supporting pregame player demonstrations:
"Mark and I had a discussion with the team today about the issues with anthem protests, etc., and we had a really discussion about it. Mark gave his views, and we’re going to be 100 percent supportive of our guys with whatever they decide to do."

On the roster turnover:
"What's more exciting than seven new guys? It's new blood."

Dirk Nowitzki
On the team's defense:
"We should be able to have a great defensive lineup -- once I'm out.''

On Kevin Garnett's retirement:
 "KG and I had a few battles just because he was so intense, and he was a competitor, the fiercest competitor. He always wanted to win, always wanted to get an edge on you early. He tried to intimidate you at times, but that was just his style. I have nothing but respect for him and what he did for this league.

Harrison Barnes
On his new teammates:
"I like this locker room. I think this is a group of high-character guys." 

On Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest:
"In terms of his message, I support what he's standing for. The persecution of black people is never an easy topic to talk about. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable, and there does need to be change about that. I'm definitely in accordance with him on that."

Andrew Bogut
On Playing with Dirk:
"I'm going to try to get him as open as I can. ... When they're physical with him, I'll be physical with them."

On Wanting to play in Dallas:
 I like Texas. I’ve always liked Texas. I like Dallas. Just the organization, I think, is always in the top when I hear from someone, guys like Richard Jefferson, guys I’ve played with. They speak so highly of the organization and the way it treats its players, how professional everyone is here. They really go out of their way to help you, so that was critical to me.”

Wesley Matthews
On expectations:
"I'm not going to say what seed we're going to get. I just know we're going to work. ... We're not going to back down."

On being all the way back from his Achilles injury:
"I'm going to be better than I was in Portland.''

Mavericks Schedule Highlights

With the NBA  and Mavericks schedule getting released today (Mavs Schedule Link), let's take a look at 10 gamess of note for the Mavs.

Oct. 26 at Indiana- The Mavs open the season on the road against a new look Pacers team that still features Paul George and old friend Monta Ellis.

Oct. 28 vs. Houston- The rivalry will be renewed in the home opener, but some luster is lost in this matchup without Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard taking part.

Nov. 9 at Golden St.- Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut return to face the team they helped lead to a title and a 73 win season. Of course this also the Mavs' first look at Kevin Durant in a Warriors uniform.

Nov. 18 vs. Memphis- Chandler Parsons returns to the AAC after leaving Dallas this off-season after the Mavs refused to offer him a max deal.

Dec. 3 vs. Chicago- Dwayne Wade will play in Dallas for the first time as a member as the Bulls, which will be really weird. He will still get booed.

Jan. 12 at Phoenix (in Mexico City)- The Mavs will head south of the border to face the young Suns and Tyson Chandler.

Jan. 26 at Oklahoma City- The Mavericks will get their first look at the Durant-less Thunder which should feature even more of Russell Westbrook.

Jan. 30 vs. Cleveland- LeBron and the defending champion Cavs make their only visit of the season to the AAC.

Mar. 21 vs. Golden St.- The Warriors will make only one appearance in Dallas this year, so tickets will be especially hard to come by.

April 12 at Memphis- The season finale could have big playoff implications just as it did when the Mavs closed in Memphis in 2014.

Mavs Notes: Evans Traded, Roddy B Returning?

• The Mavericks are trading forward Jeremy Evans and cash to the Pacers which will help free up the cap space they need for Dirk's new deal. Evans, who is due to make 1.2 million this year, averaged 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 games last year for the Mavs.
• According to ESPN's Tim McMahon the Mavs are giving consideration to bringing  back Rodrigue Beaubois for one of the remaining spots on the roster. Beaubois played four years with the Mavs from 2009-2013 and has played in France since then. His NBA career began with much promise that included a memorable 40 point game as a rookie at Golden State, but he was ultimately derailed by numerous injuries.

Dirk To Sign For 2 Years, 40 Million

The Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki have agreed to a new contract that will earn the legendary German 40 million dollars over the next two years. The new deal was first reported by ESPN's Marc Stein. There is expected to be a player option for the second year of the deal. The new contract will expire soon after Dirk turns 40. He will have also played 20 years with the Mavs at the end of the deal. Kobe Bryant is the only player in history to play 20 years with the same franchise. Dirk just opted out of the final year of a 3 year, 25 million dollar contract he signed in 2014.

Mavericks Signing Seth Curry

The Mavericks concluded a busy day tonight by signing free agent guard Seth Curry to a 2 year, 6 million dollar contract, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. Curry is the younger brother of reigning back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry and the son of Dell Curry. He saw his first sustained action in the NBA last season for the Kings, averaging 6.8 points in 15.7 minutes while shooting 45% on threes. In April he averaged 16.4 and 5.3 assists and shot 49% on threes. Curry, 25 played his college ball at Duke and spent the first two years of his pro career predominately in the D-League although he did play in 4 NBA games in those seasons with Memphis, Cleveland and Phoenix.

Mavs Bringing Barnes, Bogut Aboard

Kevin Durant's decision to sign with the Warriors turned into a boom for the Mavericks as they were able to acquire two starters from the defending West champs.
First they agreed to a 4 year, 94 million dollar deal with forward Harrison Barnes. Barnes became a unrestricted free agent when the Warriors had to renounce his rights for cap room to sign Durant. Than in a trade that enables Golden State to create more cap room, the Mavs acquired center Andrew Bogut. Bogut has one year left on his contract for 11 million dollars. The deals won't be finalized until the league moratorium is lifted on Thursday. Both deals were first reported by ESPN's Marc Stein.
Barnes, 24 is a 4 year veteran who started on the Warriors 2015 championship team and last year's 73 win squad. He set a career high last year by averaging 11.7 points per game. He is considered a good defender who can play both forward spots and is a career 38% three point shooter. He was recently selected to play for Team USA in the upcoming Olympics. Barnes is a former #1 high school recruit who the Warriors picked 7th overall in the 2012 draft out of North Carolina.
Bogut, 31, has been the Warriors starting center and a key anchor for one of the league's best defenses. He has career averages of 10.3 points and 8.9 rebounds in 11 NBA seasons with the Bucks and Warriors. Bogut was born and raised in Australia and was 2005 College Player of the Year at Utah. The Bucks then selected him #1 overall in that year's draft. He was 3rd team All-NBA in 09-10 for the Bucks and 2nd team All-Defense in 14-15 for the champion Warriors.

Mavs Bringing Back Williams, Powell

After missing out on their top free agent targets, Mike Conley and Hassan Whiteside, the Mavs finally made some free agent moves late tonight by re-signing Deron Williams and Dwight Powell.
Williams, will be back as the Mavs starting point guard after agreeing to a 1 year, 10 million dollar deal according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Williams was acquired by the Mavs last summer after he was bought of his previous deal by the Nets. The Colony Product averaged 14.1 points and 5.8 assists in 65 games last season.
Powell who was a restricted free agent will be back on a 4 year, 37 million dollar contract according to the Vertical's Shams Charania. The deal also has a player option  for the fourth year. Powell was a acquired from Boston in the Rondo deal in Dec. 2014. Last season he averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.