Mavericks guard Delonte West appears headed out of Dallas after his latest suspension. (AP)
Troubled guard Delonte West will not return to the Mavericks following his second suspension in two weeks, according to an ESPNDallas report.
A source told ESPNDallas that the team is negotiating West’s release with his agent, Dan Fegan. West, who started his career with the Celtics, was suspended Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team. It was West’s second suspension, though the first suspension lasted just 21 hours, ending after West met with coach Rick Carlisle and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson.
ESPNDallas reported Thursday that West said he was being blamed for an argument between teammates after the Mavericks’ 88-76 preseason loss to Thunder on Wednesday night. West said he got a text message Thursday morning telling him not to come to practice.
“There was an argument between two teammates in the locker room last night that didn’t involve me,” West said. “Somehow I’m being blamed for it. I had nothing to do with it. I don’t know what’s going on.”
The Mavericks might give West a buyout, waive him or reach a mutual decision to part ways, in which West would be free to sign with another team but would not be compensated by the Mavericks.
West, who announced in 2009 that he suffers from bipolar disorder, has used Twitter to express his disapproval of the situation with the Mavericks.