Mark Cuban is not happy with Kristaps Porzingis’ business reports.
The Mavericks owner told the Dallas Morning News that a Bleacher Report story claiming that the Mavericks “quietly measured Porzingis’ commercial market” is “not accurate.”
“They’ve definitely sniffed it out,” an NBA deputy general manager told Bleacher Report. “They’re taking the temperature, because they know it’s going to happen at some point.”
The BR report noted that the Mavericks prefer to pair the former Knicks All-Star with a high-quality man, such as Cleveland Cavaliers center-back Andre Drummond. SNY reported that the Mavericks specifically reached out to the Warriors for a possible deal.
Porzingis, 25, who signed a five-year extension worth $ 158 million in 2019, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 35.2 percent from 3 points in 17 games this season since returning in January from surgery to repair a lateral meniscus injury to his right knee.
A Western Conference executive told Bleacher Report that he “looked like a scarecrow” as he struggled at the defensive end of this season, adding, “I’m not sure the boy can protect anyone.”
This comment especially irritated Cubans.
“And by the way, we’re not happy that there’s an alleged‘ Western conference executive ’who premieres one of our players,” he texted the Dallas Morning News.
“There is no commercial discussion. I think they just used it as a way to express what they think of KP. ”
The Knicks sent the 7-3 lead to Dallas while recovering from ACL surgery on his left knee – along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke – in January 2019. The box office deal went clean up the salary cap space and made up for the Knicks two future first-round picks, including the Dallas selection this year.
The Mavs (14-15) entered the Western Conference standings on Tuesday ninth and are “reevaluating whether [Porzingis] it can really support [Luka] So as a second choice for a candidate, “according to the report.
“They have thrown the tires at all the members of their list who were not called Luka,” a source told Bleacher Report. “You know [team president] Donnie [Nelson], they are always playing “.
Porzingis missed Monday’s win over Memphis with tension in his back.