NBA insider Shams Charania is usually known for being the first to report on trades and rumors. However, Mavericks co-owner Mark Cuban has now revealed that the ESPN journalist also helped him orchestrate the Kyrie Irving trade.
The billionaire revealed this on Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast. “On my end, it was Shams. He was a big help to me with the trade and Kyrie’s extension,” the 67-year-old explained. The reason for this was Charania’s great relationship with Irving’s agent.
In February 2023, Dallas acquired Irving from Brooklyn via trade. In 128 games, the now 33-year-old averaged 25.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists for the Texans. In July, Irving signed a contract extension for three more years and $118 million, tying him to the franchise until the summer of 2028.
But Charania is said to have helped beyond that as well. The two had a good relationship, which is why the journalist is said to have kept Cuban informed about various developments within the league. “He kept me informed about what was going on. There were certain things he told me about some players and their interests.”
Nevertheless, Cuban did not take advantage of these privileges – partly because Charania would have withheld certain information from him. “He knew when not to ask, and I knew when I couldn’t ask him about other teams because he wouldn’t have told me either.”
Mark Cuban acquired the Dallas Mavericks franchise in 2000 for $285 million. In 2023, he sold just under 73 percent of the company to the Adelson and Dumont families. He still owns a minority stake today.