| | DALLAS -- Mark Cuban, who bought the Dallas Mavericks for $280 million last week pending league approval, told ESPN's David Aldridge on Wednesday that the Mavericks will not sign Dennis Rodman until the team can personally meet with the 38-year-old.
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So far, the team has had no direct contact with Rodman, whose agent indicated earlier in the week that the Mavericks were one of three teams Rodman was considering. Still, "the one thing I learned
in the business world is you never say never, and you explore all your
options," Cuban said.
On Monday, Cuban, the co-founder of Broadcast.com, said he'd welcome Rodman, a Dallas native and
seven-time NBA rebounding champion, who has shown interest in
returning to the NBA. He said Mavericks coach and general manager
Don Nelson, however, would make the final decision.
"I know the history," Cuban told The Dallas Morning News,
speaking of Rodman's reputation for trouble. "But I told Don, you
run the team. You've got to decide. It's your final call."
Rodman's agent, Steve Chasman, said Monday the Mavericks are one of three teams who want his 38-year-old client. He did not identify the other teams.
Chasman told The Associated Press the interest followed Rodman's appearance on the "Tonight Show" on Jan. 3. He said Rodman's "sincerity and desire to play again" came through during his
interview with Jay Leno.
"His hair was normal color, he wasn't wearing any earrings. He made it plain he wants to concentrate only on basketball, not the
off-court stuff," Chasman said.
"He really is a fierce competitor and wants to win. Everyone
has been afraid to roll the dice with him, but I think his
seriousness came across last week."
Rodman said he would be ready to play for the Los Angeles
Lakers, if they want him. But the Lakers, with the NBA's best
record, have shown no desire to take another chance on him.
"Yes, Dallas is one of the clubs interested," Chasman said.
"It's all preliminary at this point. Dennis would prefer to play
for Phil Jackson. If not for the Lakers, he'd like to play for a
team he could help lead to the championship."
Rodman has tried to return to the NBA since the Lakers cut him last April. But his interest was kindled when they hired Jackson,
for whom Rodman played with the Chicago Bulls.
However, Rodman has created disturbances on his teams through skipped practices and legal problems. Since November, he has been arrested twice -- accused of drunken driving and fighting with wife
Carmen Electra in Miami.
Before the Lakers cut him, he left the club at one point and
frequently was a distraction.
"He is working out twice a day. He got on the court for the
first time last week, and he would like to be on the court playing
by February," Chasman said.
Cuban said the e-mail response from fans since news broke of the team's interest in Rodman "has probably been 70 percent" in favor of the move.
An avid fan who has season tickets near the Mavericks bench, Cuban has said he will spend the money to make the club competitive again. He is buying the Mavericks from majority owner Ross Perot Jr.
"Everybody is writing in, 'We need a rebounder, we need someone who will stand up on defense,' " Cuban said. (But) if it doesn't
make sense (for Nelson), I would say no."
Chasman would not say whether the Mavericks' interest is from the current owners or from Cuban.
Rodman, a 13-year NBA veteran, would be eligible to sign for a minimum of $1 million. However, the Mavericks are over their $34
million salary cap.
Rodman would address three of the club's three most pressing
needs -- rebounding, defense and drawing power.
But even if the Mavericks can't snag him, Cuban said he's
confident he and Nelson can whip up a major move before the trading
deadline or around draft day in June.
"It's not like Dennis is the only guy we're after," Cuban
said. "We're trying to be as opportunistic as possible." | |
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