Cuban: "No chance" Mavs retire Jason Kidd's number

[Andrew]

That's what he told ESPN, at any rate.

Mark Cuban is so bitter about Jason Kidd’s departure from Dallas that the Mavericks’ owner says there is “no chance” of ever raising the point guard’s No. 2 to the American Airlines Center rafter.

“I was more than upset,” Cuban said. “I thought he was coming. I was pissed. …

“J. Kidd is a big boy; he can do whatever he wants. But you don’t change your mind like that. That was … yeah. I’m sure I’ll get over it at some point, but as of now, I wouldn’t put J. Kidd’s number in the rafters.”

That's his right, both to feel slighted and chose not to honour Kidd by retiring his jersey. Even if his best years came elsewhere, I think he was a significant enough part of the championship team for him to at least be considered and counting his first two and a half seasons in the league, hes's spent as much of his career with the Mavericks as anyone else. That doesn't mean his number absolutely has to be retired, of course.

Still...feels kind of petty.

[NovU]

I guess no teams will retire his jersey then. NJN is no more and probably not likely with PHX.

[Its_asdf]

I wouldn't retire his jersey regardless, but the reason he gave made it seem childish.

[Andrew]

I guess no teams will retire his jersey then. NJN is no more and probably not likely with PHX.

Why couldn't the Nets still retire his jersey? The team still exists and has the same lineage, they just moved. Julius Erving's #32 is retired from his three years with the team in the ABA when they were the New York Nets, something that obviously took place long after the move to New Jersey happened.

[The X]

I wouldn't retire his jersey regardless, but the reason he gave made it seem childish.

Co-sign. He was a role player. I think the only players from that title team that you would retire jerseys for would be Dirk & Jet.

[Andrew]

He was still the starting point guard, made some big plays and had a few good years in Dallas; it wouldn't be completely inappropriate. I don't entirely disagree with you of course, it wouldn't exactly be a travesty if they didn't retire his jersey but as Its_asdf said, Cuban comes off as a bit childish here.

[benji]

The only reason I'd even allow consideration for Terry is because he was on the other Finals team and overall with Dallas for eight seasons.

But then I think you should only retire jerseys for franchise players who played for your team for a decade or more.

[deihatein]

After reading the article it reminded me of this:

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Mind you, I reckon Cuban would be a far better boss than Vince McMahon (on or off screen).

[shadowgrin]

I guess Kidd was still pissed at Cuban for letting Chandler go that easily.

[_Steve_]

I guess Kidd was still pissed at Cuban for letting Chandler go that easily.

Well, it seems like Cuban doesn't like to go over the salary cap. This could be one reason why they did not pursue Chandler. If Kidd holds a grudge because of that, maybe he's in the right place now with the Knicks...

[benji]

Well, it seems like Cuban doesn't like to go over the salary cap.

lol

They didn't resign Chandler so they would have room for Deron and Dwight.

[_Steve_]

Well, it seems like Cuban doesn't like to go over the salary cap.

lol

They didn't resign Chandler so they would have room for Deron and Dwight.

Yeah, he took a gamble and we all know the outcome, at least by now.
Nevertheless, the Mavs seems to be very strict with not going over the cap.

[benji]

They've been well over the cap and into tax territory for the last decade...

[_Steve_]

They've been well over the cap and into tax territory for the last decade...

...it seems things are changing with the new CBA.
Cuban said - during the same interview - that adding Deron (or Dwight) would have made difficult to add/ trade for other players (as long as this team is built around Dirk). That's why Chandler and Barea were chased out of town.
Going over the cap would just pay of, if Mavs had serious chances of grabbing the title next season.

[benji]

They were "chased out of town" because resigning them would have prevented the team from creating the cap space to sign Deron and Dwight.

[_Steve_]

They were "chased out of town" because resigning them would have prevented the team from creating the cap space to sign Deron and Dwight.

This is what I wanted to say.

And that's Cuban's version:

“I don’t want to pick on Deron Williams because he’s a great, great, great player, and so it’s not necessarily him, per se,” Cuban said. “The conversation we had going back and forth — and obviously the decision was to go for him — but the conversation was, ‘OK, once you add $17.1 million in salary to what we’d have with Dirk and Trix (Shawn Marion), then what do you do?’ That’s your squad. And it’s not just your squad for this year. It’s your squad for next year other than the $3.3 million mini midlevel.
“So that was a challenge that we had because we want to win, and everybody talks about Dirk’s window. Well, not only would it have been difficult to add players, then it also would have been difficult to trade players, and in reality that was the same problem that Deron had. Because he looked and saw the same thing and said, ‘OK, now what are you going to do?’”

[NovU]

I wouldn't be surprised even if he feels bit reluctant to spend. The guy was sued by co-share holders because they thought he was spending recklessly, wasn't he?

[The X]

Andrew, I agree what he said was petty, which was why I co-signed adsf's comment

The only reason I'd even allow consideration for Terry is because he was on the other Finals team and overall with Dallas for eight seasons.

But then I think you should only retire jerseys for franchise players who played for your team for a decade or more.

Agreed. I think retired jerseys should be reserved for franchise players but I think it is very likely that Mavs will do so. Spurs retired Bowen's number. I wouldn't have done so myself but it's each team's call I guess.

[benji]

TMZ hits the streets and pounds the pavement to beat others to the headiest experts:

Joumana tells TMZ ... that just ain't the case ... and despite her rocky relationship with Jason, she believes the 39-year-old -- who played a key role on the Mavs 2011 championship team -- should be treated like the hoops hero he is. "[Jason] is an amazing basketball player I can never take that away from him. He’s one of the best guards to ever play in the league. “ She adds, "Lots of fans would love to see his jersey retired in Dallas ... I believe he’s earned it and he deserves that based on what he did for the Mavericks.”

[hova-]

If any team should retire his jersey it would be the Nets. I mean, Kidd had his best individuals seasons with NJN and was an MVP candidate at that time (not to speak of two Finals appearances although the East was weak at that time)

For the Mavs, Kidd did not play that well. He was a key part of the 2011 championship, but since that was really a team effort, you could also argue that Marion, Jet or Chandler should have their jerseys retired - that would be ridiculous.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Any response from Kidd?

[Andrew]

There was this.

"I totally understand his side," said Kidd when asked if he understood the owner's position. "Does Mark understand my side?"

Despite Cuban's view, Kidd wants very much to be recognized as a Mavs all-timer.

"I would be honored if I made the rafters there," Kidd told FOXSportsSouthwest.com.

[rise]

Kidd wasn't exactly a star in his time in Dallas, but Jason Terry's more likely to have his number retired than Kidd. He definitely did a lot more for the franchise than Kidd ever did.

[shadowgrin]

Finley and Steve Nash did more for the Mavs than Kidd ever did.