Vindication: Nelson Wins $6.3M In Arbitration Case Against Cuban

Arbitrator Rules Mavericks Owe Nelson $6.3M In Deferred Payments

Warriors coach Don Nelson won "about $6.3[M] Thursday in his arbitration case against" Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban in a ruling by retired Judge Glen Ashworth, according to Brandon George of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Nelson's attorney John O'Connor said that the verdict "cannot be appealed." Nelson in March '04 resigned as Mavericks coach and was "paid for one more season at his coaching salary, then began work in a consultant's role at a reduced salary." Cuban, who in '00 bought the Mavericks from former Owner Ross Perot Jr., contended that taking the Warriors job in August '06 "violated a no-compete clause in Nelson's contract." Nelson in May '07 filed for arbitration on his "claim the Mavericks owed him more than $6[M] in deferred salary from when" Perot owned the team. Cuban in June '07 filed a counterclaim "alleging Nelson used inside information to lead [the Warriors] past the Mavericks" in the first round of the '07 NBA Playoffs, but that claim was denied. Evidence revealed that the Mavericks "failed to pay Nelson his consulting salary beginning July 1, 2006." O'Connor added that Cuban "must also pay Nelson's legal fees and court costs" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/1). Cuban said in an e-mail, "I got exactly what I wanted out of the deal -- the true facts of the situation. I feel a lot better knowing that under oath (Nelson) said that [during the Mavericks' appearance in the '06 NBA Finals] he was meeting with [the Warriors'] GM and helping the Warriors work on their draft plans." Cuban said of the result of the arbitration case, "I can live with that. It was all worth the hassle to find out what really happened." O'Connor indicated that Nelson "must now receive $6,276,638.46 in one lump sum from Cuban as opposed to gradual payments through 2012" (ESPN.com, 7/31). Nelson, in a Q&A with the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS' Tim Kawakami, said, "I don't feel like I won a lottery or [anything], because it's money that was owed to me. I'm just getting what I already earned. Good to get it, though" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/31).