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The crew will be joined throughout the night by Mavs legends Rolando Blackman, Nick Van Exel, Josh Howard and Dallas’ No. 1 pick on the 1981 draft Mark Aguirre. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 pick of the 2025 WNBA draft, and more surprise guests will be included throughout the evening.
Mark Cuban says he almost acquired Kobe Bryant in 2007 for Jason Terry, Josh Howard and picks
Mark Cuban: "You know how close we were to trading for Kobe in 2007. Oh my God, it was like literally this close. I talked to Jerry Buss and worked something out. Kobe wanted to leave. Jerry said, 'if you want to leave, we'll take care of it.' We were going to trade Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and picks, but no Dirk. I said, ‘Anyone but Dirk.’ Kobe wanted it, and Jerry was willing to do it, but Mitch Kupchak talked Jerry out of it. It was going to happen. I remember telling this dude,’ I’m like, ‘Kobe’s going to be a Mav,’ and I thought it was done. But Mitch Kupchack stepped in, and that’s how it fell apart. The rest is history."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban caused a bit of a stir last week in a sitdown with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, revisiting a story he has told before (video below) about his belief that a trade with the Lakers to acquire a then-disgruntled Kobe Bryant leading into the 2007-08 season was essentially "done." The proposed deal, which Cuban said he was negotiating directly with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, would have resulted in a package headlined by Jason Terry, Josh Howard and future Dallas draft picks going to L.A. Yet two sources familiar with the Lakers' thinking at the time contend that the trade, from their perspective, was not as close to completion as Cuban sensed.
One source said that the Lakers took only one proposed trade that summer to Bryant to gauge his willingness to waive the no-trade clause he possessed ... to Detroit rather than Dallas. Bryant vetoed the trade to the Pistons headlined by Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince instantly and wound up reporting to training camp when the Lakers, in circumstances reminiscent of Brooklyn's now, stopped looking for trades. Bryant ultimately had his concerns about the Lakers' ability to content post-Shaquille O'Neal assuaged when L.A. managed halfway through the season to acquire Pau Gasol from Memphis.
Tim MacMahon: Former Mavericks forward Josh Howard will coach the new men’s basketball program at University of North Texas at Dallas, the school announced. The program plans to play in the NAIA next season. Howard had a 49-49 record at Piedmont International University the last four seasons.
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Howard was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., played college basketball at Wake Forest – which is also located in Winston-Salem – and is now the head basketball coach at Piedmont International University. By the way, Piedmont International University is located in, you guessed it, Winston-Salem, N.C. This journey through the basketball cycle of life is a fairytale ride which Howard doesn’t take for granted. “For me to be able to come out of my hometown, go out in the world, do what I’m supposed to do and come back and get to be a coach right here in my home city, that’s a classic story,” Howard told Mavs.com. “For me to be able to say that and experience that, it’s a blessing.”
Still, just because he’s moved on to the college game doesn’t mean Howard has forgotten his NBA connections. He keeps in contact with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, and with players he bonded with during his playing days. “I keep those bridges that I’ve built with certain people,” Howard said. “Cuban definitely supports what I’m doing and it’s a blessing for me to have people that really care about what I do out here. Cuban has never lied to me. I respect a man like that.”
Since then, Howard has bounced around the league, playing for the Utah Jazz in 2011 and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012. Howard’s last playing days happened in the NBA Developmental League with the Austin Toros. Coaching, though, appears to be where Howard believes his basketball career will continue. A Winston-Salem native, Howard recently accepted the head coaching position at Piedmont International University. “I’m pretty far gone from my playing days. It was time for me to pass along the knowledge that I’ve gained throughout the years,” Howard said in a phone interview. “It was time to pass that along to the youth and give them an opportunity to grow from my experience.”
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Josh Howard to the D-League
Marc J. Spears: Ex-NBA All-Star Josh Howard, 35, plans to join the D-League in hopes of an NBA return and is open to playing overseas, a source told Yahoo.
Josh Howard: Former #Mavs F Josh Howard had two spirited workouts this week at American Airlines Center, per source. Howard hopes to get back in the NBA.
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