Mark

Cuban

The defeat officially eliminated the Mavericks from postseason contention, which also improved their chances of holding onto their first-round pick in this year’s draft. Dallas pulled the plug on its season that night, benching numerous key players and sitting Luka Doncic after the first quarter. In addition to those actions, there were public comments made by the team making their intentions clear. Dallas’ first-round pick is top-10 protected; it will go to the Knicks (the final piece in the Kristaps Porzingis trade) if it falls outside of the first 10 picks.

Dallas already acquired Christian Wood this off-season while losing Jalen Brunson to the Knicks. It appears that they’re done, even if there were reports of a potential Collin Sexton sign-and-trade. Cuban appears satisfied with the team they currently have around Luka Dončić.

“You don’t make a change to make a change” said Cuban. “Unless you have someone that you know is much, much, much better, the grass is rarely greener on the other side.” Dallas has been to the playoffs nine times since Carlisle took over as head coach, and they’ve lost in the first round seven of those times, including six first-round exits since their championship in 2011. Carlisle is a seasoned veteran and Cuban’s rooting for him, and if the Mavs can get another star to help out Luka Doncic, they could be a contender right away.

Ideas being discussed include staggered arrival times, assigned parking spaces with unique pathways to the arena, sneeze guards and lightweight hoodies so that if “somebody two rows behind you sneezes, you’re not freaked out,” Cuban said. “It may take a little bit longer for everybody to get into their seats to start the game, but we’ll accommodate that and go from there.” We still don’t know if the current season will ever be completed, or if fans in the stands for next season is even a possibility. But when the time finally comes for arenas to open again, it sounds like the Mavericks will be ready.

“I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward,” Cuban said. Cuban mentioned that the lack of testing is a big factor on why opening things up is so risky. The Rockets are planning to open back up on May 18, and a few teams are planning to open on Friday.

“Hopefully by the middle of May, we’re starting to get back to normal and the NBA is playing games,” Cuban said. “Maybe not with fans... I mean you know no one has perfect information right now, and so all decisions are tough. But, you know, if I had to guess based off the people I’ve talked to at the CDC and other places — I would say that the over/under would be June 1, and I’m taking the under.” This is quite an optimistic timetable, and it’s important to note that Cuban is simply speculating here, but if the league does resume in May is will likely be in empty arenas.

Cuban said his “expectation is that the NBA season will not be canceled -- just postponed.” To be clear, this is simply Cuban’s feel for the situation but he’s been one of the most vocal and accessible voices since the league suspended play. He was also on Thursday’s call with team owners, during which the league said they’ll re-assess the situation after a 30-day shutdown. The decision to resume play would hinge on many factors in the coming weeks, of course, so we’re still in a holding pattern.

According to the report, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive expressed concern over the fact that details surrounding the league’s decision to allow coaches’ challenges were being leaked during the meeting. Cuban admitted that he was the one leaking the information, which led to the NBA handing down the fine. It’s a violation of league rules to discuss Board of Governors meetings with outsiders.

The Mavericks were found to have “serious workplace misconduct by former and current employees,” and “improper or ineffective management.” Cuban appeared on ESPN’s The Jump today and multiple times he took the blame and even called himself “stupid” for how he mishandled this horrible series of events. Since buying the Mavs in 2000, the NBA’s report says that claims were substantiated by 15 current and former employees regarding inappropriate comments and touching by former President and CEO Terdema Ussery. Cuban also should’ve fired multiple people for their behavior, but he again admitted he made a major mistake and has “no excuse.”

We’ve heard previously that the Mavs are likely to move their draft pick, and this confirms that chatter. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Mavs trade the pick or take someone from the international ranks and stash him overseas during the 2013/14 season.