Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban originally was all in for Dwight Howard. He was considering trading draft picks, releasing players, anything to make room for the center's massive contract. He truly believed Dallas was a frontrunner to sign him, already calling the Mavericks a championship contender with Howard and Dirk Nowitzki both on the court. However, Howard signed with Houston and Cuban is singing a different tune claiming the team is better off without him.
"I think we've put ourselves in a spot where we're in a better spot than we were at if we got just the one max-out deal," Cuban said to ESPNDallas.com. "I think it'd be better shorter and longer term. I don't want to make that sound the wrong way. I think we'll be better this year because we added five good players or more."
This is not the first time Cuban has been happy the team did not land a max-contract player. Last summer, Dallas was in hot pursuit of landing point guard Deron Williams who opted to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets instead. The Mavericks went on to finish 41-41 and end their 12-year playoff streak on a roster filled with one-year contracts. Howard was the last superstar player Dallas was hoping to land after the team stripped the roster of many players on the 2011 title team.
After creating a lot of financial flexibility for themselves, the Mavericks were targeting Howard, Williams and Chris Paul all last summer and none of the signings worked out.
"Obviously we didn't get Dwight," Cuban said. "We took a chance, and it didn't happen. I think we put together a really good team. It sticks within the culture we've tried to define."
Dallas opted to sign several quality players at a lower cost this offseason. Since missing out on Howard, the Mavericks landed point guard Jose Calderon, guard Monta Ellis, Wayne Ellington and center Samuel Dalembert. They are finalizing a deal with Devis Harris and Brandan Wright. If Dallas had signed Howard, they would not have been able to afford any other additions. They would be relying on the pay cut Nowitzki will take next summer and try and sign another player with the idea of winning a championship two years from now.
Cuban believes that in the end, not signing Howard has made the team better. They were able to stock up on quality. The owner believes that once everyone starts playing together and building chemistry, this roster will win a championship.
