Nellie v. Cuban

by TheJeezus on Jul 24, 2009 8:28 AM CDT

Well, this is certainly interesting. I think a lot of it is stuff that we've heard rumors about before, but this is the first I've heard this snippet:

From that point on, Nelson testified, he was phased out of personnel decisions. At the 2004 draft, he thought he was in charge of the Mavericks’ selections until he spoke with his son, Donnie, the team’s president of basketball operations, during a men’s room conversation that night.

Cuban, in his testimony, denied keeping Nelson out of the loop, saying personnel matters were group decisions.

The hearing testimony also brought out how Cuban and Nelson remained at odds even after Nelson turned over the coaching job to Avery Johnson late in the 2004-2005 season.

Of course, that was the Devin Harris draft, about which I have my own feelings, but I think the more important point is that we're continuing to see a pattern of dysfunction when comes to Cuban's personal relationships within the organization and the league. I'm so tired of hearing how great it is that we have a passionate owner who cares about winning and cares about the players and fans. Those things, if true, are all worth a bucket of piss if his "passion" leads to his unintentional sabotaging of this team and its future because of his ego.

That said, barring unforeseen events (SEC investigation?) I think we're stuck with Cuban for a long time. So my question is this: Could Cuban ever drive you away from the Mavericks? There are a lot of Clippers and Bruins fans who have vowed to put their fandom on hold until Donald Sterling or Jeremy Jacobs are gone. Could Cuban push you to that point?

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no.

i love the mavericks and mark is not on the court scoring thirty a night, so he is not really a bother and does not do anything but try to smack talk for the mavs, making more problems. he is the ultimate obnoxious fan that is dedicated but we all hate

d b-lee

by mavslvr44 on Jul 24, 2009 9:07 AM CDT reply actions

huh?

"Daryl (Morey, the Rockets general manager) and I were talking this morning. We both discussed how great Tracy is in the playoffs. There's very few people who have the ability to step up their games in the playoffs and he does. So we're not looking to run away from Tracy." - Houston Rockets Owner, Leslie Alexander

muhahahaha WTF?!?!

by zkmavz on Jul 24, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Lots of funny stuff in the court documents

Pressed for an example, Cuban cited the February 2002 seven-player trade in which Dallas sent power forward Juwan Howard to Denver and received Raef LaFrentz. Cuban said he agreed to the trade because Nelson said LaFrentz "would put us over the top."

The player’s name is redacted from the arbitration transcript, but it is clear that Nelson was referring to 7-foot-5 Pavel Podkolzin. "I said, ‘Donnie, I cannot take that Russian five,’ " Don Nelson testified. "And he asked me if I would go in the men’s room. I went in the men’s room with him, and he informed me that I wasn’t in charge of the draft.
"And I said, ‘Oh, really? Well, who is?’ He said, ‘I am.’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s nice of somebody to tell me.’ "And I said, ‘Well, if that’s the case, then as your father I’m asking you don’t draft [redacted].’ … And Donnie didn’t. He took Devin Harris."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/nba/stories/DN-nelsoncubanlede_24spo.ART.State.Edition2.4bd5503.html

by Norsktroll on Jul 24, 2009 9:37 AM CDT reply actions

Dampier instead of Nash is also good

Nelson also said the signing of free-agent center Erick Dampier that off-season made matters worse. He said Cuban circumvented him on that decision by consulting with Nelson’s future replacement, Avery Johnson – even though Johnson was a free-agent player at the time.

“I think Dampier signed for more than we were even talking about [for] Steve Nash,” Nelson testified. “And I considered him to be a very doggy player that they totally overpaid.”

by Norsktroll on Jul 24, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been suspicious of Donnie's GM skills since Nellie left

and now I read something like this.

by ptrck on Jul 24, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Who was he planning to draft?

Sure hope it wasn’t Shaun Livingston…

Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.

by jonthefon on Jul 24, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Podkolzin, probably

by Norsktroll on Jul 24, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Right, I didn't get that part. I thought the "Russian five" bit

was basically just referring to a Russian center, not actually taking PP at five.

That 2003 Dirk situation is also a worry about Cuban’s decision-making. I thought he might come back for a Game 7, but never earlier…

Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.

by jonthefon on Jul 24, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

wait, i dont get it

donnie nelson… the coach of the warriors, has a son who is somehow related with the mavericks organization?

d b-lee

by mavslvr44 on Jul 24, 2009 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

Don Nelson (warriors coach and subject of this article)
Donnie Nelson (son of Don nelson and Mavericks president of operations)

by JayKim41 on Jul 24, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

are you kidding?

muhahahaha WTF?!?!

by zkmavz on Jul 24, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

How can you be a Mavs fan and not know that Donnie Nelson aka the GM is Dons son?

by Carlo on Jul 24, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

/facepalm

Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.

by jonthefon on Jul 24, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

wow buddy

calm down i got the article mixed up.

d b-lee

by mavslvr44 on Jul 25, 2009 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

It is weird, though

…how Donnie can continue as President of the Mavs while his dad and Cuban are at each other’s throats. Does he address this in interviews? Just curious.

"Give me chonchon."

by Slowpoke Rodriguez on Jul 26, 2009 7:21 PM CDT reply actions