The Dallas Mavericks — an organization with about the most player-friendly reputation there is in the Association — had Delonte West on their team last season and in camp this past fall. They suspended him twice in camp and eventually let him walk.
West is now in the D-League, playing for the Texas Legends, the Mavericks affiliate. So, is he coming back to Dallas?
No. That according to Mark Cuban, speaking to ESPNDallas.com.“Not gonna happen,” Mark Cuban said, cutting off any speculation that the Mavs might welcome back West. “That doesn’t mean we don’t like Delonte, care about him as a person, want to help him get back on track….
“It’s not worth talking about at this point in time,” Cuban said. “It is what it is.”
When Dallas let West go no team picked him up — despite the fact he is 29 years old and averaged 9.6 points a game last season, giving the Mavs solid play off the bench. That speaks to the disruption he can cause and teams’ concerns about him being a poor influence on younger players.
Hopefully West can change that perception with a stint in the D-League.