Dallas Mavericks: All-Star Break Considerations and is Cuban Running for President?

While Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle continues to bench key players during crunch time, Mark Cuban might just be running for president.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Cuban said, “you write my name in and I’ll buy you a shot or a beer.”

As per usual for Cuban, no press is bad press.

However, despite Cuban’s aspirations for president, the Mavericks continue to lose, and certain key starters continue to sit in crunch time.

About a week ago, Chandler Parsons and Rick Carlisle made the news after Parsons sat key minutes in the Mavericks loss to the Miami Heat. Their relationship didn’t seem to be imploding, but Parsons was obviously frustrated with his coach’s approach to playing time. Now, Wesley Matthews is sharing Parsons same frustration. 

“I’ve got to be a team player, be a man about it, be professional about it and cheer my ass off and be ready.” – Wesley Matthews

For the Mavericks, the last two games have been decided in overtime. And while the final minutes of each game have played out differently, one thing has remained the same – the Mavericks highest paid player sat on the bench.

Against Memphis, Matthews totaled 30 minutes through three quarters. He sat the entire 4th quarter, and didn’t return to the game until 16 seconds left in overtime. But, with a Mavericks victory, little was said about Matthews and his $16 plus million that sat on the bench.

Tuesday night against Utah Matthews played significantly more minutes and was more effective from the field, shooting 5-9 for 16 points. However, Matthews was benched with 1:20 left in the 4th quarter, and did not return until there was only 20 seconds left in the game. Utah went on to tie the game after Carlisle neglected not to foul and the Mavericks eventually lost in overtime – in which Matthews played the entire five minutes.

When asked about benching Matthews against Memphis, Carlisle told ESPN, “Hey, Wes wants to play. There’s no question about that. And it’s a good problem to have. You’ve got a guy like Felton that’s playing that well, putting the ball in the hole, making plays and doing other things. These are tough decisions that a coach has to make, but I’ve got to make them.”

Either way, the Mavericks still won, but Matthews, one of the NBA’s best clutch plus-minus players, sat the bench frustrated.

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“Yeah, I was frustrated.” Matthews tells ESPN, “I’ve never been taken out of a game in crunch time. I haven’t. That’s new to me. I’ve always been especially a crunch-time player, so I don’t know. It is what it is. I control what I can control. I want to win games. I want to win games. I know I can be on the court to do that, but if that’s his decision not to have me out there, that’s his decision. I’ve got to be a team player, be a man about it, be professional about it and cheer my ass off and be ready.”

It’s no small secret that the Mavericks season and playoff hopes are collapsing in around them. Dallas won’t return until an afternoon practice on the 17th, and I highly doubt there is any other team in the league that needs this break more than the Mavericks.