Nowitzki: Don't assume anything with Mavs' front office even without 1st-round draft pick

Dallas Mavericks center Dirk Nowitzki, of Germany, gets comfortable before he begins speaking to reporters before practice for a charity baseball game Friday, June 20, 2014, in Frisco, Texas. Nowitzki will host an annual baseball game on Saturday to benefit the children’s charities of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (The Associated Press)

Dallas Mavericks center Dirk Nowitzki, of Germany, sign as autograph for Kyle Murray, 10, as his mother Elizabeth Murray looks on before practice for a charity baseball game Friday, June 20, 2014, in Frisco, Texas. Murray suffers from an aggressive brain cancer. Nowitzki will host an annual baseball game on Saturday to benefit the children’s charities of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (The Associated Press)

Dirk Nowitzki talks and acts like he's under contract with the Dallas Mavericks even when he's not.

So while the signing of his fifth and possibly final deal with Dallas is a foregone conclusion early next month, the shape of things around the 36-year-old Nowitzki is the biggest question for the Mavericks starting with the NBA draft Thursday night.

The Mavericks don't figure to alter their roster significantly on draft night because they go in without a first-round pick. Their top choice is at No. 34, followed by their last pick at No. 51.