Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Cuban surprised by Suns offer that snared Nash

DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was stunned by the contract offer that lured free agent Steve Nash to the Phoenix Suns.

Cuban addressed losing the All-Star point guard on his Web log Saturday.

Cuban wrote that he deliberated carefully before offering Nash a five-year, $51 million deal, believing that the Suns wouldn't be able to top it.

So when the Suns quickly offered a five-year contract, with a potential sixth season, worth at least $65 million, Cuban was faced with a difficult decision.

"I told Steve directly that I wanted to be fair, and that I wanted to pay him more than any other team," Cuban wrote. "I said that I didn't want to negotiate against ourself and play games. That if another team came in and paid him a max like deal, what I called an extreme deal, outside the norm, then he would have to take it. "

source

CBS

[Edited on 7/4/2004 by Ben]

At least Mark was straight up with Steve on this. I found the link to Cuban's blog - blog maverick
Great I dea for someone who's in th enews all the time.