Mark Cuban: A Potential Free Agent Would Be an 'Idiot' to Spurn Mavs

Since his Dallas Mavericks won the 2010-11 NBA title, Mark Cuban has been 0-for-2 in enticing big-name free agents to Dallas. First, Deron Williams re-signed with the Nets, then—in what must have been a crushing blow to his pride—Dwight Howard signed with the in-state rival Houston Rockets.

With the Mavericks set to take on the Rockets tonight, Cuban sat down for a pregame interview with a host of reporters.

The best nugget, courtesy of Hang Time Blog's Fran Blinebury, was when Cuban said, “I can’t talk about anyone specifically. I’ll get fined. So any potential free agent is an idiot if they consider the Mavs and don’t come.”

That's right: any potential free agent. Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant...doesn't matter. 

A few weeks ago, Jalen Rose made waves when he predicted Michael Jordan would come out of retirement to play one game. Well, guess what, Your Airness: If you come back, and don't sign with the Mavs, then you're an idiot, too!

According to Blinebury, Cuban was simply expanding on an earlier story, in which he called Dwight Howard an idiot to his face before the the game:

"

He was fine. It was nice. I said I wasn't picking on him. It’s common sense. I think anybody who doesn’t come to the Mavs is making a mistake, an error in judgment.

I used stronger words, but I told Dwight ‘Anybody that doesn't come here is an idiot.’ And if I didn’t say that, I’d be an idiot, because that’s reality, you know.

"

Long story short: Just about everyone's an idiot in the eyes of Mark Cuban.