It's water over the dam and under the bridge by now, but Deron Williams made clear after Monday's practice that Mark Cuban's absence from his meeting with Mavericks brass was a major factor in his decision to re-join the Nets. (It also may have been affected by what David Aldridge reported back then: that the Mavs offered D-Will $5 million less than the max.)

"Of course," is how D-Will answered when asked if Cuban's absence had influenced his decision. Cuban missed the meeting because he was in California working on his "Shark Tank" reality TV show. "I think he would have been able to ask a lot of questions that me and my agent didnt get answered that day, pertaining to the future," Williams said. "I think if he was there, he would have been able to answer those questions a little bit better. Maybe it would have helped me."

Since Williams spurned his hometown team, Cuban has said that the Mavs were better off without the point guard, noting financial restrictions that even (common) billionaires will face with the new CBA.

Asked about that, Williams essentially shrugged his shoulders. "That’s Mark. He does that about a lot of people. He did that with J. Kidd. It doesn’t matter. I’m not concerning myself with that. I’m a Brooklyn Net." In other news out of practice, Keith Bogans missed time because of muscle soreness and Kris Humphries went home to Minnesota for the funeral of his grandfather.

Although the Nets have Tuesday off, eight players had an extra session Monday night. The eight are all young players: Tyshawn Taylor, Marshon Brooks, Josh Childress, Mirza Teletovic, Andray Blatche, Stephen Dennis, Toko Shengelia and James Mays

• Deron: Cuban's absence helped spur decision to stay - Rod Boone - All Nets
• Mark Cuban's absence prompted Deron Williams to stay with Nets - Rod Boone - New York Newsday
  
• Deron Williams Chose Nets Over Mavs Partly Because of Mark Cuban - Howard Beck - New York Times
  
• Deron: Cuban missing meeting helped me choose Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post Nets Blog
• D-Will: Mavs owner’s absence in talks hurt - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
  
• D-Will: Mark Cuban wasn't around to answer my questions - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
• Deron Williams reveals that Mark Cuban snub helped seal decision - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
  
• D-Will: Cuban snub swayed me to stay - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Deron Williams says Cuban not meeting with him helped “clinch” Nets deal - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
  
• Deron Williams Interview (Video) - Brooklyn Nets
• Nets Practice, Almost at an Off Day - Ben Couch - Brooklyn Nets
  
• Oh, dear. Deron Williams noticed Cuban's absence - Boweman55 - Mavs Moneyball
• Deron Williams: Cuban’s absence at meeting helped clinch his decision to choose Nets - Scott Bell - Dallas Morning News
• So, why did Williams "really" re-sign with the Nets? - Dwain Price - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  
• Just Stop: Deron says Cuban's absence helped Nets' cause - Chuck Perry - WFAA
  
• D-Will: Mark Cuban could've helped - Tim MacMahon - ESPN Dallas
• Day 7 Training Camp Notes - Josh Newman - SNY
• Mark Cuban “flattered” that D-Will thinks his presence would have made a difference - Eddie Sefko - Dallas Morning News
• D-Will: Mark Cuban could've helped - Tim MacMahon - ESPN Dallas
• Cuban missile: Deron threw Nets under bus - Tim Bontemps - New York Post