DALLAS – Two years ago, Mark Cuban declared Rodrigue Beaubois “pretty much untouchable” in the trade market.

Now, it’s relatively notable for Cuban to say that Beaubois, who hasn’t gotten off the bench in the two games since Jason Kidd returned from a strained right calf, remains part of the Mavs’ long-term plans.

“That’s the way we see it now. Absolutely,” Cuban said.

It wouldn’t be stunning if that view changed over the summer, when the Mavs could try to create as much salary cap space as possible to pursue Dwight Howard and Deron Williams. It certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Mavs could part with Beaubois, who is due $2.23 million next season, in a salary dump similar to the deal that sent Corey Brewer and Rudy Fernandez to Denver.

At this point, Beaubois has no choice but to be patient. There isn’t room in the rotation right now with Kidd and Delonte West at point guard and Vince Carter and Jason Terry at shooting guard.

Beaubois, who has been primarily a point guard this year, showed flashes of brilliance in the six-plus games Kidd sat out with a strained right calf. His 22-point, seven-assist, six-rebound, four-block performance after Kidd went down against the Jazz was the most statistically impressive outing by a Mavs point guard this season.

But Beaubois struggled miserably during the Mavs’ three-game losing streak, playing tentatively and ineffectively. As far as he knows, that’s why he hasn’t played at all the last two games.

“Nobody told me anything, so the only thing I can do and I can guess is that I wasn’t playing good,” Beaubois said. “I just have to work on my game, do everything I can to get better. That’s the only thing I can do.”

Beaubois’ development isn’t a priority during games for a deep team determined to defend its championship.

“That’s what practice is for,” Cuban said. “That’s why you come in and work on your game. If you want a deep team, that’s part of the price, but he’s part of our long-term plans, so there’s no rush. He’ll get plenty of minutes.”

When and for which team?