Dirk Nowitzki keeps options open

Nowitzki, who returned to the Dallas area a couple of weeks ago, said he's taken time off since the end of the European Championships in early September. He plans to return home to Germany in a couple of weeks and will soon after resume his workout regiment with personal coach Holger Geschwinder.

He referred to this week's marathon labor negotiations with federal arbiter George Cohen ending with no agreement and no further meetings set as very disappointing.

"We were all hoping that with the mediator something was going to happen," he said. "Just talks broke off, so it's very unfortunate. We'll see. Hopefully we can get something going here any time soon, but it doesn't look good."

Nowitzki has had offers to play overseas, including from teams in his home country, which he has turned down.

"If there is no settlement, I'll go back home any time soon and probably start training with my coach again and really get back in the routine," he said. "And then you've got to keep your options open, maybe see what's going on overseas.

"If the lockout still stays strong then I've definitely got to look into something there in January, February."

Nowitzki was also still wearing a splint on the left middle finger that he injured in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He said he took a ball off the finger during the European championships and that it was "sagging."