NEW YORK — Count Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban among those who’s glad the Melo Drama is still ongoing.
“Anything that distracts other teams in our conference or in the league, that’s a good thing,” Cuban said before the Mavs met the Knicks Wednesday at MSG. “I want every other player on every team to revolt. Just refuse to play when we’re in town. That would make me happy.”
Carmelo Anthony remains the subject of trade talks even after he visited New Jersey Monday night.
The Knicks and Nets have been caught in the Melo Drama for months as Anthony’s future hangs in the balance.
“Every team has players who don’t want to be there and there’s just different ways to handle it,” Cuban said.
He added: “I feel sorry for [Denver owner] Josh Kroenke actually because he just comes in and takes over and all of a sudden he has to deal with all this. But Josh is smart, [Nuggets GM] Masai [Ujiri] is smart and they’ll figure it out.”
After losing six straight, the Mavs have won six of seven entering the Knicks game.
“Hopefully we’re back on track,” Cuban said. “You win five, six games in a row and people the doldrums you went through. We’re what, a game now behind the Lakers? Everybody in the conference has struggled at some point except for San Antonio and hopefully last night was the start of their struggles.”
Asked if he hopes the Lakers trade Ron Artest, Cuban laughed and said, “I hope not.”
Artest denied an ESPN.com report that he wanted to be dealt.
“No, definitely not,” Artest told ESPNLosAngeles.com
**Read the NBA.com notebook on the game here.
