Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters in Barcelona, Spain today that he didn't understand why Brookyln Nets point guard Deron Williams said the lack of presence by Cuban at a July meeting played a major role in him signing a free agent contract with the Nets.
""I’m a big D-Will fan, but I’m kind of surprised that he would throw his front office under the bus like that by saying that I would make a difference," Cuban said. “I would have expected him to say -- like I’d expect one of our guys to say -- ‘Hey I’m so thrilled with the front office and the moves we made and our team that it wouldn’t have mattered what he did.’
"That’s what I expect our guys to say and that’s the way I feel about our team. Again, I’m a big D-Will fan, but it’s not about individual players, it’s about building a team. And I really think we put together a good team for the current team and the future.''
Williams was trying to deciide betwene signing with the Mavs or Nets. The Mavs sent coach Rick Carlisle, general manager Donnie Nelson and special consultant Michael Finley to New York to meet with Williams.
Cuban was in Los Angeles taping his TV show, Shark Tank. Williams told New York reporters on Monday that he wanted Cuban there so he could ask him some questions about the Mavs' fuuture plans.
"He’s a superstar point guard, but my goal is to build a team,'' Cuban said. "That’s the important thing, to try to win championships.
"I’m flattered that he thought my presence would have made more of a difference than what the Nets’ management did."
-- Dwain Price
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