Mark Cuban Makes Honest Patrick Dumont Confession as Mavs Quietly Cut Ties With 23 YO Star

When Mark Cuban sold the Dallas Mavericks in 2023 for around $3.5 billion, it felt like the end of an era. He had been the face of the franchise for more than two decades, sitting courtside, making decisions, and even clashing with referees when needed. Fans thought he would still run the basketball side of things after keeping a stake in the team, but the NBA didn’t allow it.

The new ownership, led by Miriam Adelson and governor Patrick Dumont, quickly made their mark by approving the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. This move sparked fan outrage and even protests, a stark contrast to the beloved, fan-centric culture Cuban was known for. In a rare moment of candor, Mark Cuban later apologized to the disappointed fanbase, stating “I’m sorry… I had to do what’s best for my life and my family”. In yet another candid moment on the podcast by ‘The Arena’ on YouTube, Mark Cuban has revealed his true feelings about the new owner and Dallas Governor- Patrick Dumont.

The biggest change has been how decisions are now made. Governor Patrick Dumont, who bought into the team alongside Miriam Adelson, comes from a business background. Cuban himself has pointed out, “The guy who bought it, Patrick Dumont, he didn’t know basketball coming in. But I didn’t know basketball other than just playing pickup. And he’s learning, right? He’s going to get better. He’s smart.

Cuban further elaborated, “He’s picking things up really quickly and he’s putting in the time to learn and that’s all you can ask and he wants to win. He’s willing to spend the money and in this second apron world of the new CBA, that’s important”.

This frustration comes during a rocky time for the Mavericks under their new leadership, especially after the blockbuster trade that sent fan favorite Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. It was the type of decision that would never have happened in Cuban’s era, at least not without a fight. Fans protested outside the arena, demanding answers, while Mark Cuban himself admitted he was not on board with the deal. His lack of power in that moment showed exactly what he meant about losing control.

Mark Cuban was asked about his role now and he didn’t hold back. “That’s been the toughest part, just not being the final decision maker when it comes to on-court decisions.” For someone who used to be deeply involved in every trade, draft pick, and free agent move, sitting back is not natural. He had built an identity as one of the most hands-on owners in sports, but now he has to watch from the sidelines.

Cuban has been vocal that he expected to keep influence over basketball matters. He has even accused the NBA of removing clauses from the contract that would have allowed him to remain in meetings. The league has denied this, but Cuban insists otherwise. On another podcast, he said he has proof from his lawyers that the NBA forced him to give up that role. The back-and-forth has only fueled fan anger, especially since many feel the team’s identity has shifted in the wrong direction.

It hits even harder when you remember how engaged he used to be. Cuban would spend hours breaking down tape and finding ways to give his team an edge. He admitted, “Being somebody who just spent a lot of hours learning everything, and watching video, looking at the analytics, trying to come up with new analytics approaches to give us an edge, that was my mindset 24/7. And now it doesn’t matter. I’ll still do that same stuff, but sometimes it’s just me in the wall.” That change has been tough for him, and you can sense the frustration in his words.

Meanwhile, there has been another shake-up from the Mavs front office, involving 23 YO star Olivier Maxence.

Mavs Waive Olivier-Maxence Prosper to Free Up Roster Spot

In a quieter move that underscores the new basketball operations’ focus on flexibility, the Dallas Mavericks have waived forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper. The 2023 first-round pick was let go using the waive-and-stretch provision, which will spread the remaining $3 million on his contract across the next three years. This financial maneuver is a clear calculation to get the team $3.6 million under the restrictive second apron, which must have been a key consideration for the new front office.

The move also directly serves a pressing need on the roster by freeing up a spot for a backup point guard. With Kyrie Irving expected to miss significant time with a torn ACL, the Dallas Mavericks are dangerously thin at the position, with D’Angelo Russell as the only other true ball-handler on the roster. The team is now in advanced talks to bring back reliable guard Dante Exum, who shone in Dallas over the past two seasons by shooting a remarkable 47% from three-point range.

Prosper, selected 24th overall, never found his footing in Dallas, averaging just 3.5 points in 10 minutes per game over two seasons. With the arrival of rookie phenom Cooper Flagg and the presence of established forwards like Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington, Prosper became a roster casualty. The Mavericks attempted to trade the young forward but ultimately had to waive him, a small but telling transaction in the team’s new era of pragmatic roster management.