07-12-2025, 06:38 PM
Lets keep the record straight. Losing Nash was NOT a choice made by Donnie. It was 100% by Cuban. Donnie knew Nash's value and would have signed him.
At the time, Nellie was the coach and Cuban was GM, with input coming from Donnie. Both Nellie and Donnie wanted and fully expected Nash to be resigned, but Cuban fancied himself as an expert salesman who could make any deal that needed to be made. So Cuban ALONE handled it -- and when he saw the price, he would not pay the money.
Cuban was thinking he could hardball Nash into a smaller salary (doing so over the major objections of both Nelson's) since PHX was a bad team at the time. Cuban also did not value Nash since he was not a good defender, undervaluing his worth as a creator of offense, and figuring in the worst case it would not be a great loss.
At the time, Nellie was the coach and Cuban was GM, with input coming from Donnie. Both Nellie and Donnie wanted and fully expected Nash to be resigned, but Cuban fancied himself as an expert salesman who could make any deal that needed to be made. So Cuban ALONE handled it -- and when he saw the price, he would not pay the money.
Cuban was thinking he could hardball Nash into a smaller salary (doing so over the major objections of both Nelson's) since PHX was a bad team at the time. Cuban also did not value Nash since he was not a good defender, undervaluing his worth as a creator of offense, and figuring in the worst case it would not be a great loss.
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