Tense At The Top? Scoop: Cuban Speaks On AJ Contract By Mike Fisher -- DallasBasketball.com Mark Cuban does indeed feel some "uneasiness,'' some "tension'' and some "doubt'' regarding the Avery Johnson renegotiation story. But the Mavs owner's negative emotions are not directed at his coach; rather, they are directed at a newspaper tale he views as wildly off-base. "I don't know where (the writer) got that stuff,'' Cuban tells DallasBasketball.com, responding to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's "sources''-driven report that suggests a Cuban-Johnson contract-related rift and is spiced by incendiary catchphrases such as "quickie divorce,'' "doubt,'' "a tense clash,'' "communication is scarce,'' "tensions,'' "uneasiness,'' and "Cuban and Johnson both declined comment.'' Cuban certainly didn't decline comment when DB.com contacted him on Sunday morning. He responded within moments -- and we sensed no "tension,'' "doubt'' or "uneasiness'' regarding communication with Johnson. "I talk to Avery every other day. Our relationship is great,'' Cuban said, adding that he and Johnson have wisely kept any re-negotiation talks between management and the coach's representatives. "Any discussions about an extension have been with his agent and have been very friendly.'' One portion of Art Garcia's story is apparently accurate, and notable: Johnson's current contract, with three years remaining at about $2.5 million per season, is at the root of some in-house discussion. Cuban recognizes Avery as a special talent; Johnson, in his first full season as a head coach, guided Dallas to a 60-22 record, a Coach of the Year honor, and a berth in the NBA Finals. Because of all that, and because of the Cuban-Johnson relationship, a re-negotiation request may be merited. Still, Cuban questions the motivation of the story, wondering, "I don't know where he got that stuff. What would be invaluable would be to find out who he talked to. That's the important info.'' Some of this, we suppose, is simply the result of the High Cost of Being High-Profile. As Diana Ross once sang (except, I guess, she never really sang it; Notorious BIG just did some posthumous trickery): "It's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see.'' This weekend, the Cuban-Dan Marino group bidding to buy Cuban's hometown Pittsburgh Penguins was declined. Meanwhile, Cuban's plate is full with contract dealings involving Dirk Nowitzki, who we understand is primed to re-up with his max-out extension when he returns from Europe. We've got an email into Art Garcia, a friend of DB.com who doesn't work his beat with any malice toward the Mavs. We intend on politely asking him whether he drew his impression of "conflict'' from Johnson's side, from management's side, or elsewhere. And we were going to ask him how it is possible to raise this issue without getting a response from the always-accessible Cuban. But just now, Cuban himself provided us with an answer or two. An answer to his general view of "bonuses'' ( his fresh entry into his blog) and his present view on "access.'' He has made himself less accessible, he tells us, "since I got tired of them (the mainstream media) talking about everything but basketball.'' Happily, Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson ARE talking. About everything INCLUDING basketball. And, we're betting, are doing so cordially and constructively.
Avery just wants to get paid after a great season...If you were in his shoes, wouldn't you...The odds of that happening again are against you so you want to cash in ASAP... Dallas sucks...
It's probably Avery's agent feeding stories to that paper. Agents work in mysterious ways, usually to make most of their 3%.
he's only doing so well, because he has players that can accomodate his plays and different lineups. with the rockets, JVG had arguable less talent/depth to deal with. its obvious that if JVG was coaching the Mavs im sure theyd still turn out doing pretty well. that said i wish we had a new coach that ran better plays instead focusing so much on the defensive side he could focus on offense and still be able to stress defense.
um, what? this team is nothing like Rudy's team. 4/5's of Rudy's starters are gone. JVG's taken the rockets to teh playoffs 2 out of 3 years, albeit first round exits. Rudy T doesn't have a single imprint on this team except for Yao.
That is stupid to ask for more money. Yes avery led the dallas mavericks to their first visit to the NBA Finals. Did they win? I don't recall them winning the championship. If Avery leads them back to the finals next year ( Im sure they wont, Rockets will stomp them ) then you can consider giving him more to his contract. I hate all this love for more money the coaches/players have. That pisses me off so much. You sign a contract;Nothing in it says you will be getting a raise for sure.
I think that he is talking about the knicks. Because if he is talking about the rockets he is totally wrong. Im not 100% sure though . But JVG is not overrated lol. There is so many JVG haters out there. And the guys that don't hate JVG dont think hes a great coach.
