Dallas Mavericks: Mark Cuban's Comments About Jason Kidd Have Been Overblown

Mark Cuban has a serious issue with Jason Kidd. At least that’s what most headlines around the web would have you believe.

Kidd, who left in free agency this offseason to sign with the New York Knicks, has been a huge part of the Dallas franchise over the past two decades, and it came as a shock to Cuban when Kidd seemingly bailed on the Mavs.

The Mavericks had offered him a three-year, $9 million deal, and all indications were that he would remain in Texas.

But, after the Mavs failed in their courtship of Deron Williams—remember, Kidd was a huge part of the group that was pushing for Williams to come to Dallas—Kidd decided his best chance to win was in the Big Apple.

His signing came as a jolt to the Mavericks' organization and, weeks later, Cuban is still upset with the way the Kidd left town, as he told ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ben & Skin Show.

"I was more than upset. I thought he was coming. I was pissed," Cuban said. "J-Kidd is a big boy; he can do whatever he wants. But you don't change your mind like that. That was...yeah. I'm sure I'll get over it at some point, but as of now, I wouldn't put J-Kidd's number in the rafters.

"It hurt my feelings, period, because I felt that we had developed a relationship, and I thought that he was committed to the organization. It sure seemed that he was. I mean, J-Kidd was active in going out there and talking to Deron Williams the whole time. I guess it was more shocking and surprising than anything else."

Those are harsh words about a player who has done so much for Cuban and his team. Kidd made the Mavericks relevant for a while when they were abysmal in the early '90s, and the trade that shipped him to the Suns netted Dallas Michael Finley, one of the best players to don a Mavs uniform.

Then, over a decade later, Cuban swung a deal with the Nets that brought Kidd back to Dallas. That trade paid dividends in 2011 when the Mavericks won the franchise’s first-ever NBA title.

Kidd was a huge part of that team, and his fingerprints are all over the squad’s success.

So, it's almost shocking to hear Cuban say that he won't consider retiring Kidd's jersey at this point.

However, the key wording there is "at this point." In the above quotation, Cuban comes across as someone who feels betrayed.

Cuban is just upset. He feels like he's been stabbed in the back, and Cuban isn't the type of guy who holds his tongue while he recovers, which is exactly why the Internet is abuzz about this headline-stealing quote.

But still, Cuban says he'll "get over it at some point."

He can't stay mad at Kidd forever. The two were close during their time together in Dallas, and that level of friendship doesn't usually disappear.

Plus, Kidd signing with the Knicks did Dallas a favor in the long run anyway.

His departure allowed the team to acquire Darren Collison, and now Dallas will have a point guard who’s cheaper and doesn’t have an allergic reaction to layups.  

Cuban will realize this eventually. He will be angry for a while, but there will come a time when he and Kidd will reconcile. The level of respect the pair had for each other is too great not to.  

It may take a while, but sometime in the future Kidd and Cuban will be standing in the middle of the American Airlines Center smiling while Kidd's jersey is raised to the rafters.