OMG! A Gargamel sighting!! Very glad to see you around!
Somewhat ironically, the idea that Mark Cuban helped shoot himself and the Mavericks in the foot by starting the whole mess actually makes me feel a little better.
I read this list of the Mavs' moves (knowing Mark, I wouldn't doubt that he stuck his nose in most of these mistakes way too far). I forgot about Raef, but I liked the point the writer made about him being the first guy who was referred to by his expiring contract. That's true, iirc.
From another board (not mine):
2002/03
Signs Raef LaFrentz to 7-yr, $70 million contract -- as I remember it, the first comically bad contract of the internet era and the first to be known as "(Player X)'s Expiring Contract". Raef averages 9 ppg and 4 rpg and is traded to Boston along with Delonte West for the similarly overpaid Antoine Walker.
2004/05
Decides that 29-yr-old Steve Nash's best days are behind him and refuses to offer Nash anything more than a 4-yr deal at $9 mill per year. When the Suns offer Nash a 6-yr max contract, Nash (best friends with Dirk) pleads with Cuban to match it, Cuban declines. Nash goes on to win two MVPs and leads the Suns to three Conference Finals appearances.
Cuban, having cited fiscal responsibility as the reason for letting Nash walk (the Mavs were paying $10+ mill each to Dirk, Antoine, Finley AND Jamison at the time), goes out 2 days later and gives Erick Dampier a 7-yr, $73 million contract, and Marquis Daniels a 6-yr, $38 million contract.
2005/06
Realises that Marquis Daniels is vastly overpaid, trades him to Indiana for the similarly overpaid Austin Croshere, who would average 3.7 ppg for the Mavericks.
2009/10
Refuses to discuss trading Rodrigue Beaubois at the trade deadline, believing he will blossom into an All-Star. Beaubois goes on to average 8 ppg and 4 rpg on 42% shooting over the next two seasons.
2011/12
Responds to winning the 2011 title by blowing the team up, allowing 4 of their top 8 players to walk in free agency. 7 yrs after signing Dampier to a $74 million contract, Cuban decides Tyson Chandler is not worth $56 million, and focuses on signing marquee free agents in the summer of 2012. Chandler goes on to win DPOY in New York and the Mavs get swept out of the 1st round.
Trades the Tyson Chandler trade exception and a 1st round pick to the Lakers for Lamar Odom. Cuban feels he got one over on the Lakers and brags about it in the media.
Lamar Odom mails it in all year without Cuban holding him publicly accountable as Cuban is scared of offending other potential signings prior to the summer of 2012.
2012/13
Tapes reality show rather than meeting with Deron Williams, loses Deron to the Nets despite all the signs of the last 6 months pointing to Deron wanting to return home.
The Mavs focus on Plan B, the signing of Steve Nash (the player Cuban decided to let go 8 yrs ago). The Lakers go ahead and trade for him with the very player exception that the Mavs used to acquire Odom. Laker fans rejoice as Mavs fans lick their wounds.
The Mavs focus on Plan C, the re-signing of Jason Kidd. The Knicks go ahead and sign him from right under their noses, leaving them with a backcourt of...nobody...and officially deeming the summers of both 2011 and 2012 as complete and utter failures for the Mavs' front office.