Mark Cuban may draft Brittney Griner

[Tugg Speedman]

OJ Mayo, Jae Crowder and Brittney Griner ... your Dallas Mavericks!

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/9127664/mark-cuban-give-brittney-griner-opportunity-dallas-mavericks

Mark Cuban may draft Brittney Griner

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would be willing to give Baylor women's star Brittney Griner the opportunity to prove she could play in the NBA.

Cuban said he would consider selecting Griner, a 6-foot-8 three-time All-American and Big 12 player of the year, in the second round of the NBA draft. If the Mavs don't draft her, Cuban said he would have "no problem whatsoever" inviting Griner to try out for a spot on Dallas' summer league team.

"If she is the best on the board, I will take her," Cuban said before the Mavs' Tuesday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it's not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it."

Griner dominated women's college basketball with her size and athleticism, scoring 3,283 points and blocking 748 shots in her career. She also had 18 dunks, including 11 her senior season.

Griner would love the opportunity. "I would hold my own! Lets do it." she wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night in response to Cuban.

A woman trying out for an NBA team is not unprecedented. Former UCLA star Ann Meyers tried out for the Indiana Pacers in 1979.

Cuban said it's difficult to evaluate whether Griner could play in the NBA because of the caliber of her competition, comparing it to scouting players from small schools. However, Cuban said he was absolutely serious about at least extending an invitation for Griner to try out this summer.

"She'd still have to make the team," Cuban said. "I'm not going to carry her just to carry her. I don't think, anyways. But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to giving her the opportunity."

Cuban acknowledged that Griner playing in the NBA's Las Vegas summer league would have tremendous marketing potential.

"It would, wouldn't it? See how she could do?" Cuban said. "That'd sell out a few games."

[TallTitan34]

Zero chance this happens.

[jficke13]

cough*publicitystunt*cough

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel

[Tugg Speedman]

Zero chance this happens.

That she is drafted/invited or makes the team?  If you read the story, I think the odds she is drafted/invited are 100%.  Cuban is thinking of her as a gimmick for the Las Vegas summer league.  That's why it is 100%

You're right, 0% chance she logs a minute in regular season the NBA.

[MerrittsMustache]

Zero chance this happens.

Griner would be an average, at best, high school player competing against guys.

[setyoursightsnorth]

I think it's worth a shot. Playing against other women is completely unfair; nothing against the ladies, but if you are getting triple teamed and still put up 20+ a game, you need better competition. It would be interesting to see how this folds out.

[Aughnanure]

That she is drafted/invited or makes the team?  If you read the story, I think the odds she is drafted/invited are 100%.  Cuban is thinking of her as a gimmick for the Las Vegas summer league.  That's why it is 100%

You're right, 0% chance she logs a minute in regular season the NBA.

Maaaayyybbeeeee invited. Not a chance they waste a draft pick on her.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

It's a dude anyway.  What's the big deal?

[MU82]

If I'm Cuban, I absolutely would sign her (though not sure I would use even a second-round pick on her). Whatever it would cost to hold onto her for a spell he would make back in money spent by curiosity seekers, women's libbers, etc.

As for Griner's ability to battle the boys, please. It's not even a point worth debating.

[Blackhat]

Yes.   DO IT!

[muwarrior97]

Jae will still have the best hair on Mavs roster

[MerrittsMustache]

Maaaayyybbeeeee invited. Not a chance they waste a draft pick on her.

NBA teams waste 2nd round picks all the time. Drafting her wouldn't be much different than drafting a Euro player who the team knows is never coming to the NBA. The primary difference being that it would be a total PR move by Dallas.

It's in the best interest of women's basketball for her to stay far, far away from competing against men. Watching the best women's basketball player since Cheryl Miller get completely overmatched would do nothing to help the credibility of the women's game. It's better to pretend that she'd be able to compete than it is for her to go out there and embarrass herself.

[Marquette Gyros]

Griner would be an average, at best, high school player competing against guys.

At 6-foot-8?  Do you realize how much most HS BB players suck?

[WellsstreetWanderer]

During Laker's game last night Reggie Miller and Chris Weber were talking about the transition to the NBA and how dudes were so much stronger and the pace was so much faster than college. They said it was a surprise and a revelation. No way she makes the NBA.

[cj111]

If I'm Cuban, I absolutely would sign her (though not sure I would use even a second-round pick on her). Whatever it would cost to hold onto her for a spell he would make back in money spent by curiosity seekers, women's libbers, etc.

"Women's libbers"?  Thank you for that trip down 1970s lane. 

[MerrittsMustache]

At 6-foot-8?  Do you realize how much most HS BB players suck?

Yes.

[Tugg Speedman]

During Laker's game last night Reggie Miller and Chris Weber were talking about the transition to the NBA and how dudes were so much stronger and the pace was so much faster than college. They said it was a surprise and a revelation. No way she makes the NBA.

She not making the NBA ... Cuban is looking to sell out all his Las Vegas Summer league games, and maybe some NBDL games.  At most, she might log a few minutes in a pre-season game.

Combine all of the above and Cuban not only makes money on the deal, but he attracts tons of "positive" attention to his team for being "open minded" and allowing her to "pursue her dream."

That is why he does this, unless the rest of the league fears this will be an out of control circus and blocks him from doing it..

[Groin_pull]

"Women's libbers"?  Thank you for that trip down 1970s lane. 

Seriously. Someone needs to jump in their time machine and join us in 2013.

[Badgerhater]

Why waste a second round pick when you can get someone like a Jae Crowder who can start games for you his first year in the league.

[mugrad99]

Seriously. Someone needs to jump in their time machine and join us in 2013.

If he does this, Mark will break one of the commandments of television

[🏀]

There's some players on my JV high school team that Cuban would be interested in for that talent level.

[ResidentBrown]

Can she take a charge against a Lebron or Dwight Howard barreling down the lane? Don't think so.

[Warriors10]

Can she take a charge against a Lebron or Dwight Howard barreling down the lane? Don't think so.

Nobody in the NBA does that.  They just let LeBron dunk, or if you are the Bulls, you tackle him.  Nobody in there right mind would take a charge from a 250lb, full muscle dude going full speed.

Weak draft class this year; don't like anything on the board then it is worth a shot.

[damuts222]

JUWANNA MANN

[Silkk the Shaka]

JUWANNA MANN

You rang?