Report: Mark Cuban fined $25,000 for publicly discussing Mavs deals
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $25,000 for publicly discussing the team’s looming deals with DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein.
NBA free-agent contracts cannot become official until July 9, when the moratorium period on free agency ends.
The Mavericks agreed to terms with Jordan, the former Los Angeles Clippers center, on a four-year, $80 million maximum contract on Friday. Over the weekend, Cuban went on the radio show The Ticket and said the team sees Jordan as “Shaq-like,” referencing former NBA center Shaquille O’Neal.
“We see him as ‘Shaq-like’ but never having been given the opportunity,” Cuban said. “We told him if he came to the Mavs, he would be a focal point. He would grow into being a franchise player.”
• MORE FREE AGENCY: Latest NBA rumors | Free agent tracker | FA grades
Cuban also said the Mavericks told Jordan they consider him capable of becoming a “20–20 guy” who hasn’t yet received that opportunity.
Also on Friday, the Mavericks came to terms with Matthews, the former Portland Trail Blazers guard, on a four-year deal.
This is the first known fine levied against Cuban in NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s tenure, according to ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon.
- Mike Fiammetta
