The Dallas Mavericks have not been the same franchise after Mark Cuban sold his majority share of the team in 2023 for a $3.5 billion valuation. Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont took over, and things started to change. The biggest change in the organization was when the team traded star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
The team was met with intense backlash from fans, who viewed Doncic as a franchise player who could have spent his entire career in Dallas. Fans have turned on the Mavericks, leading to the firing of general manager Nico Harrison.
On the bright side, there’s a chance that Cuban could return as a majority owner. On Monday, Marc Stein of “The Stein Line” reported that the business mogul has been linked with an investor group interested in buying the Mavericks.
“BREAKING: An unidentified Dallas investor group is interested in partnering with Mark Cuban to buy the Mavericks back from Patrick Dumont,” Stein reported. “A source close to Dumont told me ‘the family remains excited about the future of the franchise and the Cooper Flagg era.'”
Cuban owns approximately 27% of the team and isn’t the controlling owner anymore. However, he still has a role as the Mavericks’ alternate governor.
The Mavericks had several great seasons under Mark Cuban’s ownership, including an NBA championship in 2011.
Mark Cuban’s reason for Nico Harrison’s firing
Fans heavily criticized the Mavericks after they traded Doncic away. It was mostly directed at Harrison, who was reportedly responsible for the move. In November, the franchise dismissed the former executive following a 3-8 record. However, the team’s record wasn’t the only reason why he was let go.
“Mark Cuban told me Tuesday on the record,” Ro Parrish of CBS Texas said, “‘While the fans’ voice did play a factor, ultimately it was the team’s performance, but the largest reason? Nico’s mismanagement of the Mavs’ salary cap, which led to a lack of flexibility last season and this season.'”
Following the move, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were named interim general managers.
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