A top NBA insider has revealed if the Dallas Mavericks will head to Las Vegas once a sale to the Adelson family is completed, and what the popular soon-to-be minority owner’s role with the organization could eventually be.
The NBA world received some stunning news on Tuesday night when it was reported that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had come to an agreement to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Las Vegas casino tycoon Miriam Adelson and her wealthy family.
Related: Mark Cuban selling majority share of Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion as NBA world reacts
Cuban, who purchased control of the team in 2000, is expected to net $3.5 billion in the deal. It is now the second-highest amount paid for a majority stake in an NBA franchise, just behind the $4 billion Matt Ishbia forked over to become the boss of the Phoenix Suns earlier this year.
The news has led to a great deal of speculation that the Mavericks will eventually be taken out of Dallas and moved to Las Vegas, a place that has been rumored as the likely location for a new NBA franchise for the last few years. However, long-time Mavericks fans should not get worried just yet because NBA insider Marc Stein claims there is “No chance” the Mavs are leaving town.
‘No chance’ Dallas Mavericks will leave for Las Vegas following majority stake sale
In a story on the former Mavericks beat writer’s Substack page that moving the team is not happening because it “would absolutely destroy [Cuban’s] legacy as the jeans-wearing, everyman owner who has made Dallas his adopted home since 1982 and has been telling everyone he knows for nearly a quarter-century that Mavericks fandom is as vital as anything in life.”
However, Stein does note that gambling being legalized in the state, or at least the city, could guarantee a move never happens.
“[Cubans] been openly discussing his dream of a new arena at the heart of a casino resort for years,” Stein wrote. “In North Texas. Also: The Adelson family has already been lobbying state officials to legalize gambling for some time.”
Another question many are wondering is if Cuban will take more of a secondary background role with the Dallas Mavericks now that he is no longer the team’s top boss. Well, Stein believes that is not likely and instead, he will remain one of the faces of the franchise while the Adelson family handles more of the off-the-court business for the organization.
“League sources say he is determined to operate as a very active partner to the Adelsons on the basketball front while happily letting them focus on the pursuit of TV money, real-estate plays for the franchise, their continued efforts to lobby Texas lawmakers to legalize gambling, etc,” Stein claims.