Richard Jefferson Changed His Mind About Signing With The Mavericks In A Mature Way So Let's All Shame DeAndre Jordan

Another curveball in Mavs' offseason: Hearing that vet swingman Richard Jefferson, thought to be staying in Dallas, now signing with Cavs

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 21, 2015

Mavs owner Mark Cuban tells ESPN that team was NOT blindsided by Richard Jefferson's U-turn a la DeAndre Jordan, saying RJ called him first

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 21, 2015

ESPN-  The Cleveland Cavaliers are closing in on a deal to sign veteran swingman Richard Jefferson, according to league sources.

Sources said Jefferson, who committed to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month, changed his mind in recent days and is finalizing a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Cavaliers instead.

Richard Jefferson is backing out of his commitment with the Mavericks with owner Mark Cuban's blessing. 

Jefferson's free agency has since played out in a similar fashion to Jordan's, with a U-turn on his intention to sign with Dallas to return to the Eastern Conference with the title-chasing Cavs.

When reached Tuesday, however, Cuban said that he actually spoke to Jefferson about his change of heart and was not blindsided by the decision as Dallas was in Jordan's case.

"He called and talked to me," Cuban told ESPN. "RJ said he had an opportunity with an Eastern Conference team. He said he would honor what he [originally agreed to with the Mavs] but thought the other was a better fit. I told him I was OK with it and understood."



Okay, that's it. It's been a few weeks. I gave Mark Cuban and Mavericks fans plenty of time to mourn the loss of DeAndre Jordan. They've had plenty of time to eviscerate his character for the way he went about re-signing with the Clippers. That time is up. It's now to time to kill the narrative that Mark Cuban was only upset because of the way in which Jordan handled his change of heart. It's gotten to a point where people seemingly think his refusal to call or contact Mark Cuban is the sole reason why there is tension, and that's just simply not true. You think Mark Cuban, yeah, the ruthless businessman Mark Cuban, would be any more understanding if DJ had gone back on his word in a classy manner? Come on, let's be serious. Cuban isn't just upset because he got treated like an overzealous teenage girl. He's upset because his team went from being a playoff contender to a potential bottom feeder. He's upset because losing out on DeAndre Jordan all but spells a rebuilding period for his team. He's upset because DeAndre Jordan was the last gasp effort to have a team capable of contending for a championship that was built around Dirk Nowitzki. That doesn't mean Jordan couldn't have been more adult, but it does mean it wouldn't have left Cuban feeling any less scorned.

So, no. I don't need to hear about how mature Richard Jefferson was in his approach to turning down the Mavericks for a last gasp at winning a title in Cleveland. You know why? Quite simply, because Richard Jefferson sucks. I actually am a huge RJ fan, dating back to my days rooting for the New Jersey Nets. However, the reality is that he is washed up. He's a solid last man off the bench, a competent defender, and a great locker room, but his play on the court leaves much to be desired. That's why Mark Cuban doesn't care that he's leaving. Not because he was super nice about doing so, but because it's irrelevant to the product Dallas is going to put on the basketball court this upcoming season. The only reason a borderline NBA player changing his mind is news is to make DeAndre Jordan look worse, when the situations aren't even remotely close to being similar. I expect Mavericks fans to keep rubbing DJ's name through the dirt every chance they get. However, it does make them look like an obsessive ex-girlfriend that took a short term relationship way too seriously. Get over it Cuban. Get over it Dallas. Either that or people might start mistaking you for the psychotic girl in 'Swim Fan'.