There's a stink on the Mavs that players apparently players don't like, perhaps that stink is Cuban. For as good as he is at business, he played this horribly. He should have never spoken about the deal or what they would have done if they didn't sign him. You never celebrate or make a deal public that isn't 100% signed and closed. Had he kept quiet, he still may have lost DJ but at least he wouldn't be dealing with the PR damage. If he was really smart, he should have put DJ on his private jet and sent him to a private beach house overseas until after the date the contract became official.
He's now been screwed by Rondo, DJ & Lamar Odom. The Mavs desperately need to change the image they have created for themselves among the league because it appears Dallas in't considered a good destination for the best players and I don't see that improving anytime soon.
I hate to admit it, but you're probably right.
Of course, I don't know Cuban, but my assessment from a distance is one of an athlete wannabe, who has remains trapped in in geekdom like so many very smart folks.
His handling of many players and prospects has been immature at times, and clueless occasionally. I don't view him as early JJ (bumbling ego), but he has no doubt made some glaring mistakes, and has sometimes outsmarted himself.
This is gonna hurt for a while, and can only be overcome if he has some kind of monumental success with the draft and FA bonanza of 2016.