Cuban Seeks Mavs Control
Mark Cuban Petitions Adelsons Over 'Handshake Deal' for Mavericks Basketball Control
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Mark Cuban has filed a petition in Dallas County court seeking depositions from the Adelson family, claiming a verbal "handshake deal" gave him control over basketball operations after he sold the Dallas Mavericks. Star-Telegram reports the petition argues Cuban should still be running the team's basketball decisions under that informal agreement.
But columnist Kevin Sherrington argues Cuban's own track record makes the legal move hard to take seriously. Fresno Bee notes the petition oddly criticizes the Las Vegas-based Adelson ownership — while simultaneously arguing Cuban deserves a bigger role under them.
Cuban's Handshake Claim at the Heart of Petition
Cuban sold the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson and her family in late 2023. He retained a minority stake. According to Kansas.com, Cuban claims an unwritten agreement kept him in charge of basketball decisions after the sale closed. He is now asking a Dallas County court to force depositions to prove that deal existed.
The petition does not appear to be a full lawsuit — yet. It is a pre-suit move to gather testimony. Bellingham Herald notes Cuban says the Adelsons have since cut him out of basketball decisions entirely, which he calls a breach of their informal understanding.
Sherrington: Cuban's Own Decisions Undercut His Argument
Sherrington's column lands a sharp punch at Cuban's credibility. Mod Bee summarizes the argument: Cuban hired general manager Nico Harrison, who then built the roster that traded Luka Doncic. That chain of decisions started with Cuban. Blaming the new owners now looks like revisionist history.
Cuban also took heavy criticism for selling to buyers who, critics say, were willing to override his more impulsive moves. Island Packet notes the column questions whether Cuban can convincingly argue he should lead basketball ops given the decisions made during his final years of ownership.
Luka Doncic Trade Looms Over the Entire Dispute
The shadow of the Luka Doncic trade hangs over all of this. Doncic was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning move in early 2025. Herald Sun notes the petition raises questions about who was truly responsible for basketball choices — and whether Cuban's alleged agreement would have prevented the trade.
If Cuban genuinely held basketball authority, the argument goes, a move that dramatic would have needed his approval. But no public evidence of a written agreement has surfaced. The case may rest entirely on the word of two parties with very different stories to tell.
Petition Creates Awkward Position for Cuban
Perhaps the strangest part of Cuban's filing is its internal contradiction. Mahoning Matters reports the petition both criticizes the Adelson ownership group and asks that same group to honor a deal that would restore Cuban's influence. Legal observers note that attacking someone in court while seeking their cooperation is a tricky balancing act.
Sherrington's column concludes that Cuban's complicated legacy with the Mavs — the championships, the controversies, the sale itself — makes him a difficult figure to root for in this fight. San Luis Obispo notes the column frames it plainly: Cuban's own history is his biggest obstacle in court.
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