War of words continues between Cuban and Morey
The war of words between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the front office of the rival Houston Rockets lasted through the summer. On Monday morning Rockets GM Daryl Morey unleashed his response.
"I think [Cuban's] pissed that we went after Dirk [Nowitzki] in free agency, however unsuccessful it was," Morey told Yahoo Sports.
Cuban admitted in an August radio interview (see below) that he was stunned by the Rockets' courtship of Nowitzki.
I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ He asked if we’d trade Dirk. At first I thought it was taunting, but now knowing more about Daryl I don’t think it was in hindsight. That’s just not his style. It says a lot about their approach more than anything else. They just have a different understanding and approach to chemistry than we do.
Morey picked on Cuban's comment regarding chemistry to make a point regarding the Mavericks' 2011 title team.
Our teams have had great chemistry, and it's something we believe in. Hey, if Mark believed so much in chemistry, he wouldn't have busted up a title team for cap room. He's trying to reunite a lot of those people now, bringing back the center [Tyson Chandler] from that title team. Maybe he's got some chemistry religion recently.
Chemistry aside, Morey pointed to the Rockets' recent success in courting free agent center Dwight Howard as the proof that Houston is the more desirable destination.
But let's be clear: If the money's equal between the Rockets and Mavericks, I think players are picking Houston. Every time. For Dwight [Howard], I just don't think it was a hard choice between us and Dallas. If you want to win, you're going to want to join our organization. We have a first-team All-NBA player in his prime. They have an enormously talented superstar but he obviously isn't 24 years old.
The Rockets and Mavericks are rivals, and Morey knows that a part of being rivals is to actively work against each other. It's a tactic he understands coming from Cuban.
"We've been pretty good, and I think he's doing a smart thing to take on a rival," Morey said. "He should want to beat up on San Antonio, too, but it's hard to paint the Spurs that way. So he's directed his bully pulpit onto us. Our owner stays above the fray, so I'm outgunned honestly."
With all the shots fired back and forth, Morey did have one concession to make to Cuban's credit:
"He has a ring. I don't."