Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

[SleepingHero]

Or at least be competitive.

Cuban talks a good game. Remember how he was bragging about how the Mavs could outbid anyone so they were confident JB would return?

Then, when it was time to cut the check, he went cheap. JB didn't want to meet with Cuban, but Cuban has reportedly said he was unwilling to top NY's offer, even if he had been given the chance, In fact, he just wanted a chance to try to talk JB into staying and taking the number the Mavs had in mind.

So there was no reason for JB to come hear that sales pitch. Show me the money. Oh, no money? Then why bother.

Why was Cuban so cheap? Other than a track record saying "he always is," I have to think Cuban's thinking was also driven by the desire to make JB a trade chip, not a long-term keeper. And I think JB got a whiff of the mindset, and saw Dallas wasn't offering a long-term home, while NY was.

With Kyrie, if we want to know what Cuban will offer, maybe we have to ask ourselves what Kyrie's contract would have to look like for him to be in high demand in a trade later on, in 6 months or a year or two. And is that a deal Kyrie will sign? Or will he walk too?

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For your last point, I think we know the answer. Kyrie will absolutely walk should Cuban offer a pittance compared to other teams. I think the mindset of viewing Kyrie as a trade chip is exactly a Cuban thing to do, and will most probably be the reason why Kyrie walks again. 

I don't know how many embarrassing moments an owner can take. Cuban has been riding on the good will of fans and that 2011 ring for 12 years now. Dirk's greatness was so good it hid all of Cuban's inadequacies. Should Kyrie walk (and I would not be surprised if he does), I can't imagine the backlash and ridicule this franchise will get, deservedly so. 

Does that scenario scare Cuban enough to act against his natural tendencies?