Mark Cuban explains why he goes after big free agents like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony

By Mike Dyce | Oct 8, 2014

May 2, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Spurs 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Mavericks continue to attempt to woo the biggest free agent names on the market, and they continue to strike out. They’ve made pitches to Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, only to walk away with none of them.

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Some say that the big free agents continuously turning down Dallas doesn’t help the team’s look to prospective players, but owner Mark Cuban doesn’t see that version of things. Cuban explained why he continues to pursue big free agents, even if there is little chance to sign them.

“LeBron [James] and [Carmelo Anthony], those are long shots,” Cuban said, via ESPN’s Marc Stein. “But you do ’em because you have to run things out. People give you a hard time when you don’t get this person or that person, but you never win any games you don’t play. And in the worst case you develop a relationship for the next time something comes up. It’s as much about trying to develop relationships as it is about trying to hit the home run.”

The Mavericks and Houston Rockets may be rivals, but when it comes to free agents they have a similar approach.

“We are always going to be swinging big,” Rockets Daryl Morey said. “We’re only about trying to win championships and how to make that happen. We take big swings at things. Obviously, it worked out the last two summers, but the only way you can land a James Harden or a Dwight Howard is by taking big swings. Sometimes, you hit. Sometimes, you miss. Bosh chose to stay in Miami, but that’s not always going to be the case.”

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