Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shocked at Kristaps Porzingis trade

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was “very” surprised at the trade package that allowed them to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Knicks in 2019.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been keeping busy during the pandemic. He continues to run his businesses while giving back. Cuban has donated time, money, and supplies to the fight against the novel coronavirus. He is setting a fantastic example for the Mavs and people everywhere.

Cuban has also been appearing for virtual interviews. He latest took place on WFAN in New York on May 20.

The conversation shifted to if Cuban was surprised by the offer that allowed the Mavericks to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in Jan. 2019. Here is what he had to say.

"“Very. It happens in the NBA right. It is like the James Harden trade. Harden gets traded from OKC to the Rockets and I’m like, DAMN, why didn’t we even get that offered to us? We weren’t in the mix. Nobody was. One phone call and the Rockets said yes. And this was our phone call.”"

Fans remember last year’s midseason trade well. The Mavericks acquired Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke for Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan, and two first round draft picks.

The deal was a win for the Mavs for the moment it went down. It gave them two young stars to build around that complement each other.

The deal looks worse for New York now. Hardaway Jr. had a career year with the Mavericks this season. Matthews and Jordan are gone from New York. The Knicks play for cap space failed when they were spurred by the marquee free agents. Dennis Smith Jr. struggled this season.

To top it all off, Porzingis is healthy and starring for the Mavs, who were on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Cuban went on to say that the Mavericks had expressed interest in KP multiple times over the years. The Knicks had always said no until that phone call in 2019.

Cuban also talked about his regret in letting Steve Nash leave via free agency in 2004. Nash went on to win two MVP awards with the Suns. Cuban called it “the dumbest thing I’ve ever done” in the interview.

Fans can see a Knicks’ perspective on Cuban’s recent comments here via our sister site Daily Knicks.