DALLAS -- Mark Cuban understands if Tyson Chandler is a bit mad at the Dallas Mavericks.

"He does have the right to be salty," Cuban said during an appearance on 103.3 FM ESPN's "Dennis and Friedo" on Friday.

Mark Cuban understands why Tyson Chandler would be a bit mad at the Mavs since the team's front office has twice given him second-fiddle treatment in free agency. Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

Chandler, a hero during Dallas' 2011 title run, has now twice been given second-fiddle treatment by the Mavs' front office in free agency. The big man was blunt when asked this week about DeAndre Jordan's decision to renege on his verbal commitment to replace Chandler as Dallas' starting center. Chandler considers Jordan's choice to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers a better-late-than-never, wise decision.

"I thought it was crazy," Chandler told reporters during media day with the Phoenix Suns, his new team. "I never thought that DeAndre was going to sign with the Mavs, to be honest. I thought he was leaving a great situation back in L.A. Clearly, their roster is very talented and they have an opportunity to contend, so I didn't understand it to begin with. Him going back on it, I actually thought that he got a good look at the picture."

It's not the first indication that Chandler -- who informed the Mavs that he was heading to Phoenix minutes before their July 1 meeting with Jordan started -- is a bit miffed about being disrespected by Dallas. His peace sign/sun combo was an underrated tweet during the comical emoji battled that unfolded why Jordan snacked on chicken with his Clippers pals and ignored Cuban's phone calls while waiting to officially sign his deal with L.A.

Cuban said a year ago that he had "learned his lesson" from letting Chandler leave and intended all along to keep him ... until he learned that the Mavs had a legitimate shot to add an NBA rebounding leader who was just entering his prime.

"I didn't think it would get to that point," Cuban said of the 33-year-old Chandler's departure from Dallas. "We actually tried to have discussions right at the start of the year about an extension and it kind of just died on the vine. His agent didn't really take it anywhere, and I was the first to say 'If you don't want to take it right now, we'll try to figure something out at the end of the year,' because I realized that by waiting that gave Tyson an extra year.

"Then the opportunity for DeAndre came along and we were pretty straightforward. Tyson or his agent gave us the ultimatum before the decision was made. He said he wouldn't wait. That's his decision. It is what it is. He does have a right to be salty, because I really did suggest to him -- and it's exactly the way I thought -- that he'd be here for a long time."

It turned out that Chandler's second stay in Dallas was also brief, but the Mavs will see him soon. His Suns make a preseason trip to Dallas and host the Mavs in the season opener, the front end of a back-to-back for Dallas that features a stop to see Jordan in Lob City the next night.

"It tells you a lot about the way the NBA looks at all the drama when they have us playing those guys right off the bat," Cuban said. "But, you know, we're in the entertainment business."