Re: Mourning Played the Mavs!
Cuban on Mourning: His agent said we had him
07/16/2003
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
Center Alonzo Mourning officially signed with the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday, as the Mavericks mulled over their options with most of the top free agents already signed.
The two events were linked, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrote Wednesday in an e-mail response to a fan that was also sent to the Dallas media.
The Mavericks felt they had a oral agreement with Mourning, and planned accordingly, backing off pursuit of other free agents, especially Karl Malone.
“Our reality is that we focused on Alonzo and thought we had him,” Cuban said. “Zo's agent (Jeff Wechsler) told us he was basically a done deal. That there was no reason he could think of that Zo wasn't going to be a Maverick.
“I stuck to protocol and didn’t go around the agent after he told me that. You don’t just call up players and say, ‘Hey, I want to make sure your agent is fully informed and you aren’t doing something behind his back. Turns out he wasn’t and Zo was, and Zo went another direction.”
Wechsler did not return phone messages Wednesday.
The Mavericks made Mourning their No. 1 priority and were willing to offer him a four-year contract, even though he had missed last season with a kidney illness.
Cuban, who was in Miami to court Mourning when free agency began July 1, admits that Mourning was a gamble.
“In wanting to sign Zo, our feeling was that if we got two years at 80 percent of the Zo of two years ago, we would be very fortunate,” Cuban said. “We knew that there was also the risk that he may be able to play for a couple months, and realize his body wouldn’t be up to tolerate the grind of the NBA again …”
The Mavericks remain in the hunt, at least marginally, for Indiana free agent Brad Miller, although a complicated sign-and-trade is their only option.
Beyond Miller, the pickings are slim, with 7-footer Michael Olowokandi signing with Minnesota on Wednesday.
“With the remaining free agents, there isn’t an over-the-top guy who is priced in the mid-level range,” Cuban said. “We are out there exploring options for trades, as we always are, but as Donnie (Nelson) has told everyone, we aren't going to sign someone just to sign someone, and if push comes to shove, we will invest in younger players and work to develop them.”
Cuban on Mourning: His agent said we had him
07/16/2003
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
Center Alonzo Mourning officially signed with the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday, as the Mavericks mulled over their options with most of the top free agents already signed.
The two events were linked, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrote Wednesday in an e-mail response to a fan that was also sent to the Dallas media.
The Mavericks felt they had a oral agreement with Mourning, and planned accordingly, backing off pursuit of other free agents, especially Karl Malone.
“Our reality is that we focused on Alonzo and thought we had him,” Cuban said. “Zo's agent (Jeff Wechsler) told us he was basically a done deal. That there was no reason he could think of that Zo wasn't going to be a Maverick.
“I stuck to protocol and didn’t go around the agent after he told me that. You don’t just call up players and say, ‘Hey, I want to make sure your agent is fully informed and you aren’t doing something behind his back. Turns out he wasn’t and Zo was, and Zo went another direction.”
Wechsler did not return phone messages Wednesday.
The Mavericks made Mourning their No. 1 priority and were willing to offer him a four-year contract, even though he had missed last season with a kidney illness.
Cuban, who was in Miami to court Mourning when free agency began July 1, admits that Mourning was a gamble.
“In wanting to sign Zo, our feeling was that if we got two years at 80 percent of the Zo of two years ago, we would be very fortunate,” Cuban said. “We knew that there was also the risk that he may be able to play for a couple months, and realize his body wouldn’t be up to tolerate the grind of the NBA again …”
The Mavericks remain in the hunt, at least marginally, for Indiana free agent Brad Miller, although a complicated sign-and-trade is their only option.
Beyond Miller, the pickings are slim, with 7-footer Michael Olowokandi signing with Minnesota on Wednesday.
“With the remaining free agents, there isn’t an over-the-top guy who is priced in the mid-level range,” Cuban said. “We are out there exploring options for trades, as we always are, but as Donnie (Nelson) has told everyone, we aren't going to sign someone just to sign someone, and if push comes to shove, we will invest in younger players and work to develop them.”
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