Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he might select Baylor's Brittney Griner in the NBA draft. Is he serious?
Cuban admitted that the move would have strong marketing potential. At the very least, it would draw more interest in the NBA summer league. "That'd sell out a few games," Cuban said.
In an email response to USA Today, Cuban emphasized that Griner would have to excel in pre-draft workouts in order to be drafted.
Griner seems to be on board. "@mcuban so when do I show up for tryouts" Griner tweeted.
Even if Cuban's chatter is something of a publicity stunt … so what? If Cuban is offering Griner at least a chance, and Griner wants to take the opportunity, that would be great for basketball. NBA teams have drafted women players before. In 1969, the San Francisco Warriors selected a high school student, Denise Long, in the 13th round; Long had averaged a cool 69.6 points per game in her senior year. Then-NBA commissioner Walter Kennedy voided the pick, since the NBA did not allow high school players to be drafted at the time (he also deemed it a pure publicity stunt). In 1977, the New Orleans Jazz picked Lusia Harris, from Delta State, in the seventh round. But she did not try out; it turned out that Harris was pregnant at the time.
Cuban is unlikely to draft Griner. The NBA draft has only two rounds now. So although late-second round picks are unlikely to make a team, they're still assets. Cuban knows publicity, and he's aware that if a player selected after Griner goes on to have a successful NBA career, he'll get pilloried.
But what's the harm of inviting Griner to camp as a free agent? That's also happened before; Ann Myers, of UCLA, participated in a three-day tryout with the Indiana Pacers in 1979. (She didn't make it). Or why shouldn't Griner suit up for a summer league game? There, she'd have a fair shot to prove if she can compete. Everyone would be watching. And if you're an NBA owner like Cuban, what's wrong with everyone watching your team?