“You didn't want to sign Jalen Brunson for $56 million” – Stephen A. Smith blames Mark Cuban for disappointing Mavericks season
Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks missed the NBA's play-in tournament this season after reaching the Western Conference finals last season and pairing Kyrie Irving with Luka Doncic in February. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith recently put most of the blame on the owner for their mistakes during the offseason.
During the offseason, the Mavs made significant moves to address their needs. However, they failed to re-sign Jalen Brunson to a contract. The 6-foot-1 guard helped the team in many ways last season, enabling them to reach the Western Conference finals.
Kyrie Irving's arrival was expected to thrust the Mavericks into playoff contention, but it did not have the expected outcome, and he's been blamed for their late-season struggles.
However, Smith believes it's not Irving, but Cuban, who should shoulder most of the blame.
"The fact of the matter is, Kyrie Irving is not the reason the Dallas Mavericks have missed the playoffs," Smith said. "Respectfully, that would happen to be Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison, the owner and the president of basketball operations, respectively.
"You had an opportunity to sign Jalen Brunson last offseason, $56 million. You didn't get it done. That's all it would have taken. Jalen Brunson would have signed the deal. He would've stayed in Dallas, that same Jalen Brunson that saved them when Luka Doncic got hurt and helped them win the Utah series, beating Donovan Mitchell, who was in Utah at the time.
"You didn't want to sign him for $56 million. New York Knicks gave him $103 million. Because you lost Jalen Brunson, you were starving for somebody to be a supplementary piece to Luka Doncic because Luka Doncic had problems with constantly going to the bench, watching the team fold like cheap tents and struggle."
Kyrie Irving is not to blame for the Dallas Mavericks embarrassing end to the season.
That honor belongs to Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison https://t.co/K34XAIyqEA
The Mavs will have to address a host of issues ahead of next season if they are to return to contender status.
You might also be interested in reading this: How much did Mark Cuban buy the Dallas Mavericks for? Understanding negotiations and challenges in NBA team acquisition
Mark Cuban blames Jalen Brunson's father for the free-agency frenzy
ESPN's Tim MacMahon got a chance to interview Mark Cuban about how Dallas handled Brunson's free agency last year. Interestingly, the famous businessman blamed Brunson's father for why the Mavericks weren't able to re-sign the star point guard.
"Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over," Cuban said.
Mark Cuban blames Jalen Brunson's father, Rick, as to why Mavs lost out on Brunson in free agency.
"Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over."
(via @espn_macmahon) https://t.co/lHh5GWRtp0
When the New York Knicks guard was asked about this, he dodged the question and said that he's focused on the postseason.
"I'm really focused on Cleveland right now. That's all," Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson is asked about Mark Cuban's comments regarding his free agency:
"I'm really focused on Cleveland right now. That's all." https://t.co/onajEPqYrA
Also read: "Mark Cuban grinning from ear to ear"- NBA fans destroy Luka Doncic and the Mavs after loss to Bulls eliminates them from the playoffs