Mark Cuban Eyes Mavericks Buyback Amid Luka Doncic Fallout

Merlin sees Mark Cuban linked to a possible effort to buy back the Dallas Mavericks with an unidentified Dallas investor group, though sources say the team is not for sale. A source told Marc Stein that "The family remains excited about the future of the franchise and the Cooper Flagg era." Cuban still owns 27 percent, serves as an adviser, and that stake can be bought down to seven percent by the new owners. Merlin remembers the sting of last season's moves. Cuban once said "Nothing's really changed except my bank account" after selling control, yet he was reportedly left out of the Luka Dončić trade and publicly criticized the deal. If Cuban presses to return, questions will follow about trust, control and whether the Dumont era wants him back.