Mark Cuban claimed he learned his lesson from the mistake of letting Tyson Chandler leave in free agency after their 2011 championship season, but apparently it was just lip service, as the Mavs turned their back on the best center in franchise history four summers later.
And now, the Mavs’ owner must be understanding if Chandler isn’t all too thrilled by the way he was disrespected — twice — in Dallas.
“He does have the right to be salty,” Cuban said Friday on 103.3 FM.
After reacquiring Chandler from the Knicks, the Mavs again dumped him when they felt convinced they had a legitimate shot to sign NBA leading rebounder DeAndre Jordan.
“The opportunity for DeAndre came along and we were pretty straightforward,” Cuban said in the radio interview. “Tyson or his agent gave us the ultimatum before the decision was made. He said he wouldn't wait. That's his decision. It is what it is. He does have a right to be salty, because I really did suggest to him — and it's exactly the way I thought — that he'd be here for a long time.”
Jordan, of course, changed his mind, stayed with the Clippers and left Dallas grasping at a gaggle of Plan C center including Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee and Samuel Dalembert.
“I thought it was crazy,” Chandler told reporters during the Phoenix Suns’ Media Day last week. “I never thought that DeAndre was going to sign with the Mavs, to be honest. Him going back on it, I actually thought that he got a good look at the picture.”
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The Mavs open the season against Chandler and the Suns Oct. 28 in Phoenix. And, yes, they’ll be a severe disadvantage in the middle.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
