I get the feeling that Mark Cuban has always had strong opinions. Even so, since winning a surprising NBA title in 2011 and becoming something of a hit on NBC's "Shark Tank" around the same time, he's either more fully embraced his role as the outspoken owner (if possible) or more people are simply listening to him when he speaks because of those accomplishments. His latest comments addressed the covertly taped comments made by 80 year-old Donald Sterling to his twenty-something year old girlfriend at the time, V. Stiviano.

Basically, Cuban's opinion confirmed the extremely difficult situation faced by new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will provide an update on the league's investigation in a press conference scheduled for later today.

Cuban is worried about the precedent of punishing a man for something he said in what he believed was a private conversation rather than for something he actually did.

"I think there's a [league] constitution for a reason, right?" Cuban said before Game 4 last night, ESPN reported. "Because this is a very slippery slope. What Donald said was wrong. It was abhorrent. There's no place for racism in the NBA, any business I'm associated with, and I don't want to be associated with people who have that position.

"But at the same time, that's a decision I make. I think you've got to be very, very careful when you start making blanket statements about what people say and think, as opposed to what they do. It's a very, very slippery slope.

"Again, there's no excuse for his positions. There's no excuse for what he said. There's no excuse for anybody to support racism. There's no place for it in our league, but there's a very, very, very slippery slope."

Other NBA owners, however, weren't as apprehensive.

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander:

"This kind of behavior can't be allowed in the NBA by owners, players or anybody. This guy has no place in the family of the NBA. Whatever it takes, we have to make sure this kind of event never happens again."

Lakers owner Jeannie Buss:

"The comments and sentiments expressed on the tape are reprehensible and disturbing, and certainly are the opposite of how the Lakers feel about the league's players and fans. I have full confidence that Adam Silver and the NBA will handle this situation appropriately."

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert:

"It is shocking that anyone could hold the kind of offensive and feeble-minded views that are being attributed allegedly to the Clippers owner, Donald Sterling. The diverse staff members of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise are united in encouraging Commissioner Silver and the NBA to respond with swift and appropriate action consistent with a strong zero tolerance approach to this type of reprehensible behavior."

Really, what's the worst Adam Silver can do? He can't suspend Sterling like he could a player or a coach. (Perhaps he could suspend him from attending games or performing team operations?) The best he can seemingly do is fine him, which is even more of a joke to a billionaire owner than it is to a multi-millionaire player/coach.