Oct. 19 -- Mark Cuban has said it before, but he reiterated it Friday.
The Dallas Mavericks owner will not trade Dirk Nowitzki, even if it's Kobe Bryant coming in return.
Cuban spoke candidly about the Bryant situation at a North Dallas dance studio while taking a break from rehearsals with his Dancing With the Stars partner, Kym Johnson.
"I still haven't talked to [Los Angeles Lakers owner] Jerry Buss," Cuban said. "So until that happens, nothing can happen."
Cuban said the Mavericks like the team they have.
"If and when I talk to Jerry, I'll make it clear that we're not going to trade Dirk," Cuban said. "And we're not going to dismantle our team. Kobe's one of the top players in the league. But without the right team around him, he's in the same position he was in Los Angeles.
"So you don't want to just shuffle the deck chairs. Either you're making an improvement to your team or you don't do it. And with a team that won 67 games last year, it's tough to improve significantly."
Buss has said he would listen to trade offers for Bryant, arguably the most talented player in the league. The Mavericks, Chicago, Phoenix and Cleveland are among teams that have been rumored to be potential future homes for Bryant.
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