It’s All Over for Rodman in Dallas After 29 Days

Dennis Rodman needed less than a month to wear out his welcome in Dallas.

The Mavericks released their biggest drawing card Wednesday, hours after he lashed out at owner-in-waiting Mark Cuban.

Dallas went 4-9 during his 29-day tenure, falling from eight games out of the final playoff spot to 10 1/2.

“The comments had nothing to do with it,” Cuban said in Dallas. “We all are upset about losing.

“I would do this all again and sign Dennis in a heartbeat. It was the right move, we just didn’t get the wins we wanted.”

Rodman slammed Cuban after Tuesday’s loss to Seattle, saying, “He doesn’t need to be hanging around the players like he’s a coach or something. That’s like Jerry Jones, and it’s dumb. That’s why the Cowboys went down. He needs to be the owner, step back and put people in who can get this team in the right direction.”

This could be the end for Rodman, a seven-time rebounding champion with five championship rings, who averaged 2.1 points and 11.2 rebounds with Dallas.

Even if Rodman, 38, signed with another team, he wouldn’t be eligible for the playoffs.

“He was brought here to help us make a playoff run, which obviously hasn’t happened,” Coach-General Manager Don Nelson said in a statement. “Therefore, it is in the best interest of the organization to play our younger players throughout the remainder of the season.”

Rodman did not comment.

Rodman, who has also played in Detroit, San Antonio and Chicago, lasted 48 days with the Lakers last season.

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Kidney transplant recipient Sean Elliott hopes to become the first athlete to return to their sport Tuesday when the San Antonio Spurs play host to the Atlanta Hawks before his family, friends and doctors.

“I won’t have it any other way,” said Elliott, who underwent the surgery almost seven months ago.

Coach Gregg Popovich seemed to agree, saying, “It’s looking pretty good. If things continue as they are now and there are no setbacks, then March 14 might be reasonable. We’ll see how it goes between now and then.”