Dirk to Dubs: Golden State Warriors "aggressively" interested in Nowitzki

OAKLAND, Calif., June 21 (UPI) -- Here's a scary thought: the Golden State Warriors are seeking out a former NBA MVP with a silky smooth jump shot. He's also 7-foot tall.

His name is Dirk Nowitzki.

A Warriors executive told the Mercury News' Tim Kawakami that the team "will be very aggressive" this offseason when it comes to offseason moves.

Although the Warriors are interested in the Dallas Mavericks lifer, it still has sights for the biggest fish in the free agent sea.

"Let's be clear: The Warriors first and foremost still want to clear the decks for a run at unrestricted free agent Kevin Durant," Kawakami wrote.

The 38-year-old big man with touch has free agency on deck. Kawakami said that the Warriors have "no idea if he'd be interested in leaving Dallas."

The Warriors have a long list of free agents, with Harrison Barnes likely seeking the biggest paycheck. But the team's bench will also have holes, with Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Ian Clark, and Brandon Rush all looking to sign deals.

Last month, Mavericks reporter Bobby Karalla reported that Nowitzki would opt out of the final year of his contract and sign back with the team.

"There is some moving to do, some thinking, some putting our heads together the next few weeks heading into free agency, heading into the draft," Nowitzki said on Bad Radio on 1310 The Ticket. "So this is just one move that hopefully starts a chain reaction for us to get better again, to compete really at a high level. We'll see how it goes."

Nowitzki has an $8.7 million player option this season. He led the team to the NBA title in 2011, against LeBron James' Miami Heat. He is a 13-time All-Star and former Finals MVP. He has averaged 22 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game during his career. He averaged 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds last season.

Following the Mavericks' Western Conference playoffs exit this season, coach Rick Carlisle said he hopes to see Nowitzki back in Dallas.

"We've got to hope that this isn't Dirk's last game as a Maverick," Carlisle told CBS Sports. "I'm ready to get on a plane and go to Germany and recruit him to be back. But I don't think we can take that for granted. We got to give him that kind of respect."

NBA free agency begins July 1.