Mark Cuban is not happy with Kristaps Porzingis’ commercial reports.
The owner of the Mavericks told the Dallas Morning News that a Bleacher Report story stating that the Mavericks “quietly assessed Porzingis’ commercial market” is “not accurate”.
“They definitely sniffed him,” an NBA assistant general manager told the Bleacher Report. “They are taking the temperature, because they know that at some point it will change.”
The BR report noted that the Mavericks prefer to pair the ex-Knicks All-Star with a great quality man, such as the pivot Andre Drummond available from the Cleveland Cavaliers. SNY reported that the Mavericks specifically contacted the Warriors for a potential settlement.
Porzingis, 25, who signed a $ 158 million five-year extension in 2019, has an average of 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds, while shooting 35.2 percent of the 3-point range at 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 the Bleacher Report that he “looked like a scarecrow” while fighting on the defensive end this season, adding “I’m not sure if the guy can protect anyone”.
This comment particularly angered the Cuban.
“And by the way, we are not happy that there is an alleged ‘Western Conference executive’ attacking one of our players,” he wrote to Dallas Morning News.
“There is no commercial discussion. I think they just used it as a way to spread their thoughts about KP. “
The Knicks negotiated 7-3 for striker Dallas as he recovered from ACL surgery on his left knee – along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke – in January 2019. The blockbuster business opened up wage ceiling space and earned the Knicks two future choices in the first round, including the Dallas squad this year.
The Mavs (14-15) entered Tuesday, ninth in the Western Conference standings and are “reevaluating whether [Porzingis] can really support [Luka] Doncic as the second option in the competitor ”, according to the report.
“They kicked the tires of everyone on their list who was not called Luka,” a source told the Bleacher Report. “Do you know [team president] Donnie [Nelson], they are always moving. “
Porzingis lost Monday’s victory over Memphis due to a tight back.