Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban believes the team is well-positioned for long-term success despite the challenges of the NBA\u2019s new financial landscape.<\/p>\n
Speaking Friday during Cooper Flagg<\/a>\u2019s introductory press conference, Cuban praised team president and general manager Nico Harrison for managing the salary cap constraints that have forced other contenders to offload star talent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news is that the front office has done a great job of putting together a team where we can compete,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cA couple of breaks \u2013 Kyrie comes back, Cooper is who we expect him to be \u2013 we could have a really, really good team.\u201d<\/p>\n Cuban, who still owns 27 percent of the franchise and remains involved in team matters, pointed to the team\u2019s ability to avoid harsh penalties triggered by the second apron of the collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at a lot of teams right now, they\u2019re blowing up their teams. They\u2019re dropping bombs on their teams because of the second apron,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got our guys locked up and with the way the cap\u2019s going to move, we should be in really good shape.\u201d<\/p>\n Cuban said the team gained access to the taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason through Harrison\u2019s negotiations, including a new contract agreement with Kyrie Irving<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNico and Kyrie have had a strong enough relationship that they were able to work together to give us a little wiggle room to have somebody to fit in when Kyrie is out,\u201d Cuban said. \u201cSo for all the hell that Nico has gotten, he\u2019s done a great job of putting us in a really good position.\u201d<\/p>\n Roster and Cap Mismanagement<\/strong><\/p>\n Putting aside the Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> trade, Harrison\u2019s recent decision-making history deserves less credit.<\/p>\n Dallas wouldn\u2019t have needed Irving to take less money this summer had the team moved Quentin Grimes<\/a> ahead of restricted free agency in exchange for Caleb Martin<\/a>. That deal could have preserved an open roster spot or at least allowed for a sign-and-trade elsewhere. Instead, Martin is slated to earn nearly $9.2 million in 2025\u201326 \u2014 more than double Grimes\u2019 $4.3 million figure.<\/p>\n The Mavericks\u2019 trade for Martin had immediate negative ramifications. It hard-capped the team at the first apron with only 14 players. When injuries hit, Dallas was left without a traditional center for extended stretches \u2014 an avoidable scenario for a self-proclaimed contender.<\/p>\n Additionally, Dallas parted with what became the 35th overall pick in the NBA Draft, packaged with Grimes, despite the league giving the Mavericks a chance to rescind the deal. Instead, they pressed forward with an injured player who took weeks to play and ultimately made no impact.<\/p>\n A Year of Short-Term Gaps and Long-Term Cost<\/strong><\/p>\n While injuries are often unpredictable, the front office\u2019s personnel decisions created compounding problems. Dereck Lively<\/a> II and Dwight Powell<\/a> were already sidelined when Anthony Davis<\/a> was given the power to determine whether he\u2019d play through an injury that worsened before he finished his debut. Daniel Gafford<\/a> then went down, and Dallas was left without a playable center, starting two-way wing Kessler Edwards<\/a> at the five.<\/p>\n To their credit, the Mavericks eventually landed Kai Jones<\/a> on a two-way contract, and he contributed. But before that, they cycled through Kylor Kelley<\/a> and Moses Brown<\/a> in a scramble to fill holes. Due to their inability to sign a 15th player, Dallas exhausted the two-way eligibility of both Brandon Williams<\/a> and Kessler Edwards<\/a>. Williams couldn\u2019t be converted to a standard deal until April 10.<\/p>\n Other missteps linger. JaVale McGee<\/a> \u2014 Harrison\u2019s first use of the taxpayer mid-level exception \u2014 cost Dallas $2.2 million last season, not to play. Meanwhile, Jaden Hardy<\/a>\u2019s contract extension added $6 million to the 2025\u201326 cap sheet, more than D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/a>, who will start while Irving recovers from ACL surgery. <\/p>\n Also, Olivier-Maxence Prosper<\/a>, the No. 24 pick in 2023, doesn\u2019t appear to be in the mix amid a wing logjam. The roster sits at 15 players. The Mavericks took on Richaun Holmes<\/a>\u2018 contract to land Prosper.<\/p>\n From a macro view, Dallas has spent heavily on role players before having to clean up mistakes. The team used first-round picks to acquire Christian Wood<\/a> and Grant Williams<\/a>, who were gone within a year. To fix those gaps, the Mavericks later spent more capital to acquire Gafford and P.J. Washington<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following next year\u2019s draft, Dallas does not control its first-round pick again until 2031. By then, Irving will be 39 and Davis 38.<\/p>\n