Cuban Says No Decision Made On West's Future
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Friday night that no decision has been made about Delonte West's future with the team after the guard was suspended for the second time in 10 days.
Cuban said he will make the final call on whether West could return to the Mavericks after he was suspended indefinitely Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team.
"The best way to sum it up is no decisions have been made one way or the other," Cuban said.
West was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. Authorities say he was carrying three loaded guns and a knife when he was stopped for speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle in 2009.
West was a valuable role player for Dallas last season, even starting 33 games as the backcourt struggled with injuries before he was sidelined himself by a broken finger.
Dallas first banned the ninth-year guard on Oct. 15 after a locker room outburst, but that suspension lasted less than a day.
West sent out a series of tweets Thursday after the team announced the latest suspension that raised questions about whether he would return this time.
But Cuban did not rule out West playing again in a Mavericks uniform.
"There's been no decision to waive him or anything like that," Cuban said. "It could go either way. I haven't made any decisions."
West's suspensions have been part of a hectic preseason for the Mavericks.
Dirk Nowitzki had right knee surgery last Friday and could miss up to six weeks. The 11-time All-Star played just one preseason game before he started experiencing swelling in that knee.
Center Chris Kaman has been sidelined more than a week with a right calf strain and his status is in doubt for the regular-season opener Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Kaman's health a question, the team claimed Eddy Curry on waivers on Thursday. Curry started at center in the Mavericks' final preseason game Friday night against Charlotte.
