Mavericks minority shareholder Mark Cuban has withdrawn his pre-suit deposition against team governor Patrick Dumont and the case has been dismissed without prejudice, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Cuban filed the petition last month, claiming the Mavs’ new majority stakeholders — the Adelson and Dumont families — participated in “adversarial business practices” by shutting him out of the team’s plans for a new arena.
However, Cuban’s legal team made it clear in Monday’s filing that he intends to make sure he’s kept in the loop on the Mavericks’ arena plans, using legal means if necessary, Townsend adds.
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
Speaking of the Mavericks‘ plans for a new arena, Townsend writes that the franchise has reemphasized its intention to build the arena and entertainment district on the former site of Valley View Mall. “We’re still fully committed to Valley View and are doing our due diligence,” Mavericks chief communications officer Gina Miller said. “We are 100% focused on doing the due diligence necessary to get this deal done.” The franchise hopes the new building will be completed in time for the 2031/32 NBA season.
Where do the Rockets stand in the Western Conference? A team of ESPN writers tackles that subject, noting that Houston is banking on Fred VanVleet‘s return from a torn right ACL and another year of collective development for its young players to translate into postseason progress. The only major additions the team made this offseason was a pair of veteran guards, Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Still, a 50-win season is a reasonable goal.
Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama worked on his post moves with Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon last summer. He has had a few tutorial sessions with Olajuwon in Houston once again this offseason, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. Wembanyama averaged 25 points per game on 51.2% shooting last season. He shot 48.6% from the floor during the previous season.