Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

That's the type of media exposure that helps DAL become more of a FA destination. Never be LA or NYC, but competitive with most other venues.

What is the general thoughts on Cuban as owner/GM? Did he help or hurt in the last 10 years? I give him credit for reviving an organization that had been down trodden for years and creating new excitement. 

Of course, the arrival of a tall, lanky kid from Wurtzburg helped a little.

My two cents is this: 

When Cuban bought the team, he did many great things to improve quality of life for his team significantly, and for the visiting team quite a bit, too. Mood lighting, nicer towels, playstations, better catering, one of the first teams to own their own plane, etc, etc, etc. Over the years, the other owners were forced to begrudgingly catch up to those changes, and while Cuban is still being talked about as an innovator within certain DFW circles, the perception of these changes around the league hasn't been quite so postive for some years now, and THIS current generation of players probably takes those kind of amenities so for granted that it wouldn't even register with them that he was the first to offer them, even if they did know that, which I doubt they do. 

Meanwhile, he has become one of the cheaper, and from certain players' perspectives (fair or not), more duplicitous guys running a team. I think the last shred of "players' owner" capital Cuban had flew out of the window when he chose not to allow the 2011 Mavs to defend their title. Chandler and Barea deserved to get paid HERE, because they brought a title HERE. We saw how quickly everyone but Dirk found an exit over the next couple of years. I really think people around the league noticed that. 

Also, and I say this with full respect for what he did for our Mavs during his first decade here, Cuban is a world class douchebag. He has one of the least magnetic personalities on the planet, as anyone who ever tried to stomach even one episode of "the Mark Cuban Show" can attest. 

You think guys like Luka WANT the owner sitting 6 feet away from the bench, shouting things intended to be helpful, but very likely coming off as a clueless fan who they must acknowledge because he pays them? I imagine that's literally the worst part of playing here for most of them. 

But NOW, they have a top 5 player entering his prime, a universally respected NBA icon in Kyrie saying great things about the organization every time a microphone is put in his face, and when you watch the team, you can tell they enjoy playing with one another. And, they're undeniably a GOOD, YOUNG team. Cuban deserves some of the credit for that, sure, but to my thinking, his exit (to whatever extent he actually exits - his seats will probably still be his seats) paves the way for the next phase of this build. My sense is that people really respect Nico Harrison, and the first thing I noticed about him is that he carries himself VERY confidently and respectfully. I'd say that if Dumont is able to do what an owner should and get out the GM's way, this is good news on many fronts, not the least of which is a likely improvement in how the franchise is viewed among the player fraternity. 

And, the BEST part is this: if Harrison sucks, he'll be fired. I'm not advocating for a revolving door at GM or Head Coach - that's how bad teams operate. But, the GM must be someone who CAN be held accountable, and not the damn owner of the franchise. Just ask any Cowboys fan.