Cuban was stunned at how Mavs landed Porzingis from Knicks
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban didn't expect to land Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks so seamlessly in 2019.
After a reported meeting led the Knicks to believe Porzingis wanted to be traded, they quickly shipped the Latvian big man to Dallas along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke. In return, New York acquired DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr., and two future first-round picks.
Cuban admitted he was left stunned when he received the Knicks' offer.
"Very," Cuban said on WFAN's "Moose & Maggie" earlier this week. "It happens in the NBA.
"It's like the James Harden trade. Harden gets traded from OKC to the Rockets and I'm like, 'Damn, why didn't we even get that offered to us?' We weren't in the mix. Nobody was. It was one phone call and the Rockets said yes. (The Porzingis trade) was our one phone call."
Cuban said it's not unusual for general managers to receive trade proposals for their supposedly untouchable stars. He noted he used to frequently hear from team executives who were interested in acquiring Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki. He also said he had previously held similar discussions with the Knicks about Porzingis, which allowed them to accelerate negotiations.
The Knicks drafted Porzingis fourth overall in 2015. He went on to average 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and two blocks in three seasons in New York and was named an All-Star in 2018, though he didn't participate in the game due to an ACL tear.
In 51 games with the Mavericks, he's averaged 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Cuban compared the Knicks' choice to part with Porzingis with his own decision to allow Steve Nash to leave for the Phoenix Suns as a free agent in 2004. Nash then went on to win back-to-back MVP awards.
"Every team has their own reasons," Cuban said. "We let Steve Nash walk. It was the dumbest thing I've ever done. At the time, I was getting medical advice saying his back may not make it.
"Obviously, that advice was wrong. ... The Knicks had their judgment and were trying to do what they wanted to do. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't."