Highlights of MMB podcast, with Tim Cato --
Cato does not view this piece as a story about Bob. He sees it as a story about the front office as a whole and its dysfunction. He has been working on the article for months. When he first started pursuing the question of why the front office has not been able to put a good enough team around Luka, he posited that a lot stemmed from Luka-KP issues. But no one wanted to talk about that at all. They wanted to talk about the front office power dynamics, and specifically about Bob. But Bob is just a specific example of the internal dysfunctionality in the front office, which goes beyond Bob. The piece is intended to shine a light on how things have gone wrong, and push back on the we're-the-smartest-guys-in-the-room theme.
Having said that, Cato feels very comfortable in reporting that Luka does not like Bob. That seemed to be a given from the sources he talked to.
The story did not arise because of the loss in the first round series. It would be pertinent even if the Mavs had won. The dysfunction existed long before this season's playoffs. Cato's sources, including those outside the team, perceive the situation as going beyond normal corporate politics.
The piece should not be interpreted as setting up a Bob v Rick dynamic. Rick has been nothing but adaptable when it comes to Luka. One of the things Rick most hates is live-ball turnovers from his point guards, but he has decided he can live with them from Luka. Step-back threes are another thing he has come to accept from Luka. Rick has also embraced analytics and the idea of incorporating them into his coaching. He and Bob actually agree on a lot of the conclusions Bob comes to, and this is not a case of one of them v the other, in terms of who stays at the team. They can peacefully co-exist. Also, Luka has not indicated that he is unhappy with Rick, to Tim's knowledge.
The Mavs are normally a very tight-lipped organization. He believes people were willing to share details in this particular case because they view the matter as pivotal and urgent. It is unknown whether Cuban, who has dictated front office policy for over twenty years, also views it this way. There is evidence supporting the view that he does, but also that he doesn't.
The story is not about any single person's incompetence. Many different factors have been at play in a team that has underperformed for the past decade, despite having back-to-back superstars.
Looking forward, the situation is not at a team-destroying level yet. There is still time to "fix" it. But the feeling in the organization is that the power dynamics are not up to par, and that something needs to be done, lest they lose Luka, and the clock is ticking.
Cato does not view this piece as a story about Bob. He sees it as a story about the front office as a whole and its dysfunction. He has been working on the article for months. When he first started pursuing the question of why the front office has not been able to put a good enough team around Luka, he posited that a lot stemmed from Luka-KP issues. But no one wanted to talk about that at all. They wanted to talk about the front office power dynamics, and specifically about Bob. But Bob is just a specific example of the internal dysfunctionality in the front office, which goes beyond Bob. The piece is intended to shine a light on how things have gone wrong, and push back on the we're-the-smartest-guys-in-the-room theme.
Having said that, Cato feels very comfortable in reporting that Luka does not like Bob. That seemed to be a given from the sources he talked to.
The story did not arise because of the loss in the first round series. It would be pertinent even if the Mavs had won. The dysfunction existed long before this season's playoffs. Cato's sources, including those outside the team, perceive the situation as going beyond normal corporate politics.
The piece should not be interpreted as setting up a Bob v Rick dynamic. Rick has been nothing but adaptable when it comes to Luka. One of the things Rick most hates is live-ball turnovers from his point guards, but he has decided he can live with them from Luka. Step-back threes are another thing he has come to accept from Luka. Rick has also embraced analytics and the idea of incorporating them into his coaching. He and Bob actually agree on a lot of the conclusions Bob comes to, and this is not a case of one of them v the other, in terms of who stays at the team. They can peacefully co-exist. Also, Luka has not indicated that he is unhappy with Rick, to Tim's knowledge.
The Mavs are normally a very tight-lipped organization. He believes people were willing to share details in this particular case because they view the matter as pivotal and urgent. It is unknown whether Cuban, who has dictated front office policy for over twenty years, also views it this way. There is evidence supporting the view that he does, but also that he doesn't.
The story is not about any single person's incompetence. Many different factors have been at play in a team that has underperformed for the past decade, despite having back-to-back superstars.
Looking forward, the situation is not at a team-destroying level yet. There is still time to "fix" it. But the feeling in the organization is that the power dynamics are not up to par, and that something needs to be done, lest they lose Luka, and the clock is ticking.