Dirk Nowitzki has acknowledged he will take a paycut from the $22.7 million he made this season.

The key for the Dallas Mavericks and Nowitzki is to find a deal that will keep the star forward happy while allowing the team to continue to add talent.

“We want to get better as a team,” Nowitzki said. “And I’m pretty sure I’m not going to sign Kobe’s deal – unfortunately (Bryant signed a two-year, $48-million extension). We’ll find a good way where I feel respected for what I did and we still have enough money left for us to get great players in here. Cubes has been great to me and been loyal to me for a long, long time. I’m sure we’re going to find a great solution for everybody.”

A deal in the area of $10 million per year could work for the two sides.