Mark Cuban has been known to start a tiff or two in his time as Mavs owner and players haven't been shy to respond to the outspoken owner with words of their own. Cuban recently suggested that the Lakers should use their amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant as he is owed roughly $30MM next season. Rather than shoot back with comments of his own, Bryant took out his frustrations on Dallas this afternoon, putting up 38 points, 12 boards, and seven dimes as he led the Lakers to victory. Here's more on the Lakers and the rest of the Pacific..
- Cuban walked back his comments to a degree today, claiming that he was just using Bryant as an example for a larger point, according to the Associated Press. "Whenever the commissioner or any other team talks about the CBA, they talk about Dallas and Tyson Chandler, or Dallas and Dirk [Nowitzki] and what's going to happen," Cuban said. "You've got to use examples. I was clear in saying it was hypothetical and I expected him to be in LA, but he was a good example because they have the highest payroll in the league."
- Suns big man Jermaine O'Neal finds himself at a career crossroads in 2013, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. For now, he is preparing as though he will return for next season but recurring injuries combined with personal matters may lead him to call it a career before 2013/14.
- Lakers forward Jordan Hill's season may not be over if the club can find a way to make a deep playoff run, tweets Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register.
Mark Cuban did not say that the Lakers “should” use their amnesty clause on Kobe, he suggested that because of the tax implications of his massive contract, amnestying Kobe would free up their options.