Leave it to the Dallas Mavericks to turn a simple news conference into a scene out of a B-movie.
There was Quinn Buckner, whose hiring as head coach lured the media to a crowded conference room at Reunion Arena Thursday afternoon, explaining how the team would keep trying to sign disgruntled top draft pick Jim Jackson.Then, apparently tired of fudging and beginning to look befuddled, Buckner turned to general manager Norm Sonju, who opened a back door and, presto, in walked "the newest member of the Dallas Mavericks" - Jackson.
That announcement came after team owner Donald Carter - who "went and got me a brand new (cowboy) hat out of the box today because we got a whole new game" - had told Buckner "we ain't kissin' " during a ceremonial handshake sealing their deal.
Pass the popcorn.
That scenario, by the way, was provided by a team that is 4-50 and challenging the NBA's futility record of 9-73 set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.
Jackson's contract, which includes $2.6 million for the final 28 games this season, is the biggest in team history and the largest ever for an NBA rookie guard.
The signing of Jackson is much less of a gamble than the hiring of Buckner, a 38-year-old former player with no coaching experience who is a longtime friend of Rick Sund, Dallas' vice president of basketball operations.