BRUNSON BURNER: to NYK for 4yrs/$104M (no SnT) | NYK docked 2025 2nd for tampering

[cow]

Devil's advocate.... what was Mark going to say publicly? I mean what else could he say? He had to act as if the Mavs had the upper hand.

He screwed up. His best option coming into this 2 weeks ago was to say he was confident and not give NY any motivation or incentive to continue the pursuit. Of course they went balls out anyway and Cuban still looks like an idiot, but it's the only hand he had to play 2 weeks ago. No sense in behaving as if you lost back then. A little bluff is all he had. 

But the mistake was made months ago, and perhaps this outcome is no surprise to him now. We are at a point where Cuban can still sell his offer to the Brunson camp, or maybe up it a little. Good. Maybe it happens.

But part of it still feels like this another D. Jordan moment from years ago.... the one where the player increases the drama and then all eyes focus on Cuban... and the Mavs come away with zippo, and organization looks like it was duped.

All we need are reports about Cuban driving around New York aimlessly trying unsuccessfully to call Jalen's cell.  

I don't think we are anywhere near that drama but what got the Mavs to this situation is worse and should be a major lesson for whoever is responsible for managing the cap and contract structures.  On the other hand, the Mavs draft so dismally that they probably never imagined Jalen would garner this type of contract which just moves the egg on their face from one side to another.