Mark Cuban's surprising comment suggesting that the Los Angeles Lakers could amnesty Kobe Bryant's contract to save money might cost the Dallas Mavericks owner a little of his own. The Los Angeles Times reports that the NBA is considering a fine against Cuban because of his comments on a Los Angeles area radio show.
Mark Cuban could get fined for Kobe Bryant amnesty comment, according to report
The NBA is mulling over a decision about whether or not to fine Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for his remarks about Kobe Bryant’s contract.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
While the suggestion from Cuban seems outlandish considering Bryant’s value to the Lakers both as a face of the team and on the court, the one-time amnesty clause gives teams the chance to wipe their books clean of one contract to avoid luxury taxes. And Bryant’s $30.5 million salary certainly is a large chunk of what the Lakers shell out.
Related: Mavs Moneyball on Cuban's comments
At the same time, Cuban's remark could also be a slight prodding of Los Angeles and Bryant, who, heading into a meeting between the Mavs and Lakers on Sunday, were only a game apart in the standings and chasing the Houston Rockets for the final playoff spot. Dallas' owner told the Los Angeles Times before the game that he enjoyed jabbering at the Lakers when Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal were around.
“It’s nowhere near as fun (now). They would always take the bait,” Cuban said.
In the end, Cuban did get a reaction from Bryant, though not the one he probably would have liked. Bryant tweeted, “Amnesty THAT” following the game against Dallas where he hung 38 points on the Mavericks in a 103-99 victory.
Dallas is now two games back of Los Angeles in the Western Conference standings.
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