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There were an estimated 2,700 attendees this year, a mix of students (really low QualGrip with that crowd), writers, employees of start-up companies whose names are all various puns on the word "analytics," front-office bigwigs and lil'wigs, accented academics, and — according to the official attendance list that everyone loves to pore over on the first morning to see whom they want to mildly stalk — one Reggie Love.1 It's a funny environment. Mark Cuban stalks the halls trying out video games, trailed by aspirational geeks like a pasty Pied Piper. Michael Lewis, hosting the keynote discussion "Revenge of the Nerds," looks over at America's most adored prophet, Nate Silver, and casually remarks that he can't remember whether he interviewed him for Moneyball. (I wish my own memory lapses were as highbrow as that.) There are basketball-shooting robots in one room, and guys giving talks about tracking the eye movements of soccer players in the next. One night, while out to drinks with a few colleagues and others, I turned to one of those others and was about to politely inquire "So, what do you do?" Before I could, a bunch of the other guys at the table started peppering him with questions about the San Antonio Spurs. As it turns out, he was R.C. Buford, the team's GM. Nice guy! Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Statistics 

Published reports indicated the Dallas Mavericks, including owner Mark Cuban, feel otherwise. Fisher asked for his release there about two months ago, citing undisclosed family issues and want to heal his injured knee. "I felt strongly about the decision on a personal level," Fisher said following the Thunder's 108-104 win Sunday over the Clippers at Staples Center. "It wasn't anything about Dallas, Mark or the team that I was not happy about. Just personally I didn't enjoy being away from my family at the time." Los Angeles Daily News

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Mark Cuban 

Steve Kyler: #SSAC13 @Daryl Morey and @Mark Cuban both crack Royce White jokes... Morey says "you were gonna draft the same the guy we were" Twitter @stevekylerNBA

Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Mark Cuban, Daryl Morey, Royce White 

This marks the second consecutive season that a former Laker has quit on the Mavs. Unlike Lamar Odom, Fisher at least had the decency to stop cashing paychecks signed by Cuban. Asked if he planned to stay away from ex-Lakers, Cuban said, “In protection of my [Twitter] timeline, I’m not going to say anything.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Lamar Odom, Mark Cuban 

The 38-year-old southpaw who won five titles in two stints playing alongside Kobe Bryant, signed a veteran’s minimum deal with the Mavs on Nov. 29 on the heels of Dallas benching Darren Collison. Fisher immediately took over as the starter until he asked for and received his release on Dec. 22 so he could spend more time with his family, as he explained in a prepared statement. Apparently with 26 games left before the start of the playoffs, family concerns are no longer an issue for Fisher, who wore No. 6 for the Mavs because, as he said, he joined them on a quest for a sixth title. “This is not a pit stop,” Fisher told his new Dallas teammates. Lo and behold, he will also wear No. 6 for the Thunder. He will make his second OKC debut in as many seasons at home Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets. So how do the jilted Mavs feel about this turn of events? Owner Mark Cuban did not reply to multiple emails on Monday, but one league source said the best way to describe the mood of the Dallas front office is “agitated.” The source said that Fisher and his representatives never contacted the Mavs during his decision-making process to discuss a possible return to Dallas, the team that, in good faith, initially signed him. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Mark Cuban 

The source said that Fisher’s departure before Christmas seemed to come out of the blue. Of course, in 2007 when Fisher played for the Utah Jazz, he did have a late-season family emergency. His 11-month-old daughter suffered from cancer in her left eye and required surgery in New York. After the playoffs, Fisher asked the Jazz to release him from his contract so he could concentrate on finding the best care for his daughter. After saying, “life for me outweighs the game of basketball,” Fisher would soon sign a three-year deal to return to the Lakers. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Mark Cuban 

The reason the Mavs didn’t re-sign point guard Steve Nash when he became a free agent on July 1, 2004, was because Mark Cuban said all the medical information he received was that Nash was basically done. “Obviously it was wrong, but that was the information I had,” Cuban said Sunday. “We didn’t even know what gluten-free diets were back then. “That’s what everybody told us, and that was one of the reasons we really picked things up in terms of what we did in medical information so we don’t make mistakes like that again.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Steve Nash, Mark Cuban 

The Lakers have 11 wins in their last 15 games and are within 2½ games of a playoff spot. They haven't lost since Bryant guaranteed the team would make the playoffs last week. And as if his 14-point, 5-of-5 from the field fourth quarter wasn't enough of a closing act, Bryant took to Twitter to take his last shot of the day. After Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in a Friday radio appearance: "If you look at their (the Lakers') payroll, even if Dwight (Howard) comes back, you've got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?", Bryant responded postgame by tweeting "Amnesty THAT." USA Today Sports

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

“They should have listened to Cuban and amnestied him this morning,” Dirk Nowitzki kidded after his 30-point, 13-rebound performance was overshadowed by a Kobe classic. Oh, Kobe did throw one verbal jab at Cuban after his dominant performance in Dallas. “We've always kind of marched to the beat of our own drum, but I'm sure if [Cuban] wants to amnesty Dirk, that's something we'll entertain,” Kobe said, essentially offering his fellow future Hall of Famer a spot on the Lakers’ roster next season. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban 

Well, it’s on a much higher intellectual level than those digs -- just try calculating the luxury tax that kicks in next season -- but it’s another classic Cuban shot at the Lakers. And this one backfired. “Nice to know there is a least one team and their players, outside of the Mavs, that listen to everything I say,” Cuban wrote in one tweet Sunday evening. He then added another: “But I do have to give props to @kobebryant for a great tweet. #Welldone.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

Cuban, however, said everyone took his comments out of context and that he was using Bryant and the Lakers as an example while trying to explain the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement. “[NBA commissioner] David Stern and everybody that works for the NBA, every time they describe the CBA and what’s going on they use the Mavericks and Tyson Chandler, or [Oklahoma City] and James Harden [as examples],” Cuban said before Sunday’s 103-99 loss to the Lakers. “You can’t describe it any other way. “And I was very clear this was a hypothetical. I wasn’t recommending or suggesting anything, despite what some of the media said.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

Cuban said before Dallas' game against the Lakers on Sunday that he made it clear during a radio interview Friday he was speaking hypothetically, and he was just trying to use an example to explain new restrictions in the labor agreement. The Lakers called the remark inappropriate but didn't plan to pursue a complaint. "Amnesty THAT," Bryant tweeted after scoring 38 points in a 103-99 victory over the Mavericks. NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

Kevin Ding: Kobe also said postgame about @Mark Cuban: "I'm sure if he wants to amnesty Dirk, that's something that we'll entertain." Twitter @KevinDing

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban 

Mark Cuban: But I do have to give props to @kobebryant for a great tweet. Twitter @mcuban

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

The amnesty clause allows teams to avoid a contract counting against the salary cap, although the player is still owed the money. "If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight comes back, you've got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?" Cuban said in the radio interview. "You just don't know, right? It's the same reason I wouldn't get rid of Dirk, I'll take a hit for a season rather than get rid of Dirk. "So I'm just saying that hypothetically. When I say amnesty Kobe, I don't think they'd do it, but they've got some choices to make. Now, they're in a big market, but they're still limited. The Knicks, the same thing. Boston, same thing." Cuban said Sunday he wasn't alone in citing specific players. "Whenever the commissioner or any other team talks about the CBA, they talk about Dallas and Tyson Chandler, or Dallas and Dirk and what's going to happen," Cuban said. "You've got to use examples. I was clear in saying it was hypothetical and I expected him to be in LA, but he was a good example because they have the highest payroll in the league." NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

Jeff Caplan: Mark Cuban on Anthony Morrow: "He can shoot like a MF'er." Rick Carlisle wasn't quite as complimentary when asked about his defense. Twitter @Caplan_NBA

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Anthony Morrow, Rick Carlisle 

Mavs owner Mark Cuban recently joined Ben & Skin on 103.3 KESN-FM. Here are some highlights: On how he sells Dallas to free agents: “It just depends on the guy. Every guy is different. We just don’t say hey, we’re the Mavs. Hey, we won a championship. Hey, we like to win. Hey, don’t you know who we are? Hey, Dallas is a great city. It’s not like that at all. It’s tailored to the individual. Every guy is different so you’re going to have a different pitch. You’re going to have a 5-10-15 percent chance of getting him because the CBA says the recumbent team has the best opportunity then you’ll look at all the others. There are a ton of free agents out there. We saw some things fall through the crack last year so hopefully we can continue to add good players in search of the great player.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Mark Cuban 

The Lakers have heard Mark Cuban’s comments about Kobe Bryant. They’re not amused. On Friday, the Dallas Mavericks owner said in a radio interview that the Lakers should consider using their one-time amnesty provision on Bryant. Bryant has one more season and $30.5 million left on his contract. He is one of four players the Lakers can amnesty, and next season is the last chance they can use the money-saving device. The Lakers weren’t thrilled with the speculation. “We’re aware of Mark Cuban’s comments and feel they are inappropriate,” Lakers spokesman John Black said Friday. “As to the issue itself, we will not comment publicly on the amnesty issue as it relates to any of our players.” Los Angeles Times

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

The Lakers will not file a formal complaint with the NBA, though the league is looking into the matter and can fine Cuban for his comments. Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak declined to comment. Pau Gasol ($19.3 million next season), Metta World Peace ($7.7 million) and Steve Blake ($4 million) are the other three players the Lakers could waive this summer and not pay luxury taxes on their salaries. The Lakers still have to pay the salary of whichever player they amnesty. “If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight comes back, you’ve got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?” Cuban told 103.3 FM in Dallas. “You just don’t know, right? It’s the same reason I wouldn’t get rid of Dirk [Nowitzki]. I’ll take a hit for a season rather than get rid of Dirk. That’s just it. I’ve made that commitment to him over the years and he’s returned that commitment. Maybe that’s selfish, but that’s just the way it is. Los Angeles Times

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban 

Janis Carr: Told that Mark Cuban suggested the Lakers amnesty him as a cost-cutting move, Kobe said, "I bet he did." Twitter @janiscarr

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban