Steve Novak, the 32nd overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, seemed to have a nice niche carved out for himself as a shooter toward the end of the bench with a good attitude to go along with his nice jumper. When the NBA's contract guarantee date came on January 5, however, that all came to a halt as the Dallas Mavericks elected to cut ties with the 6-foot-10 stretch four instead of guaranteeing the remainder of Novak's contract. After waiting less than a month for a team to offer him a 10-day contract, however, Novak has decided to take his future into his own hands. According to multiple sources, Novak has signed a contract with the NBA Development League in hopes of showing NBA teams that he's worth another look.
Novak, a four-year NBA veteran, has posted career averages of 4.0 points on 44 percent shooting including an above-average 41 percent from behind the three-point line. After two seasons with the Rockets, Novak's best season came with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2008-09 season when he averaged 6.9 points in 16 minutes off the bench in 71 games.
With the Mavericks this season, Novak appeared in just seven games while totaling 11 points in 18 minutes.
It had been rumored that the Mavericks might be interested in bringing Novak back on a 10-day contract after letting Sasha Pavlovic's second 10-day expire, but it seems that Novak decided that he's better off giving it a go in the D-League where he can show teams he's in NBA shape and still able to contribute at a high level.
Typically known for his shooting, a trait that he was known for ever since his freshman year at Marquette in 2002 when the Golden Eagles made the Final Four on a team that also featured Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener, Novak will more than likely look to show that his game is well-rounded enough in the D-League for him to earn another opportunity in the NBA.
Novak won't clear waivers until Friday, but it's unlikely he'd fall past the Texas Legends, the D-League team owned by Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson. League sources say the three teams in front of the Legends are currently the Iowa Energy, New Mexico Thunderbirds and Reno Bighorns.
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