Mark Cuban: I won’t trade Dirk

by Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News reporter

“There’s nobody who is a bigger warrior," Cuban said of star player Dirk Nowitzki.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban yells at a referee during the second half of the game against the New Orleans Hornets at the American Airlines Center. The Hornets defeated the Mavericks 99-96 in overtime.

DALLAS — Mark Cuban returned to basketball Saturday night after a week in Las Vegas testing out new gadgets at the annual technology convention.

Do not misinterpret his absence on the Mavericks’ recent West Coast trip. He’s returned with all the venom and passion you’ve grown to expect from the owner.

And he vows that this season is not lost. If anybody in the organization believes it is, he’s got a message, along with telling people that there is a 100% chance the Mavericks will attempt to pull off a trade before the February 21 deadline.

“We are making progress and getting better,” Cuban said. “No one in the locker room has given up, that I can tell. And if I find anybody that’s given up on this season, I’ll kick them to the curb faster than I can lift a boot. Because that’s just not the way we do it.”

In addition, Cuban was clear that Dirk Nowitzki is a prime candidate to finish his career in Dallas. The owner assured everybody one last time that there is zero chance the best player in franchise history will get traded.

Not so everybody else, however.

“There’s a 100% chance that we’re going to look to do something,” he said of making moves before the trade deadline.

“[But] I told Dirk we’re not trading him. He was happy. I made it clear to him that we are in this through thick and thin. So there’s no way that I’d trade him, no matter what.

“There’s nobody who is a bigger warrior, and that’s why I’ll never trade him.”