Mark Cuban - Mavericks didn't get shot at re-signing Jalen Brunson

DALLAS — During an unscheduled pregame media availability Wednesday evening, Mavericks Governor Mark Cuban blamed Jalen Brunson's father for the point guard's departure from Dallas and declared that re-signing Kyrie Irving would be the franchise's top offseason priority despite the team's lackluster results since the blockbuster trade to acquire the All-Star guard.

The Mavericks are nearing the end of a «very disappointing season,» in the words of Luka Doncic, the face of the franchise, with slim odds to qualify for the play-in tournament after advancing to the Western Conference finals a year ago. The loss of Brunson in free agency last summer has been a devastating blow for the Mavericks, who were 37-42 and in 11th place in the Western Conference entering Wednesday's home game against the Sacramento Kings.

Cuban adamantly disputed that Brunson was willing to sign a four-year, $56 million extension with the Mavs as late as early January last year, which Jalen's father, Rick, and Jalen have both said was the case, and insisted that the Mavs weren't given an opportunity to negotiate before Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks in free agency.

«Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over,» Cuban said.

Cuban read reporters text messages from Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and Brunson's agent Aaron Mintz that he said were sent in late January and early February 2022. One of the texts from Harrison stated that Rick Brunson indicated that Jalen expected to receive a contract with salaries in the range of $18-23 million per year.

The Mavs were limited to a four-year, $56 million extension unless they made a trade to create salary cap space,