Let’s keep it 100 percent. Something’s not working in Dallas.
Nico Harrison came in as a fresh face, a former Nike executive with big ideas and big connections. The vision was exciting: Pair Luka Dončić with a strong front office voice who could attract talent, build a smart roster, and take this team to the next level. But fast-forward a few seasons, and here we are. Again.
Despite having two elite players, Luka and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks look like a team stuck in neutral. The roster has holes, the defense disappears when it matters most, and the bench has been a revolving door of short-term fixes. Fans are frustrated. Fast-forward a little more, and here we are. Luka was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the late-night hours on Feb. 1-2. A player who is in his prime was traded for someone older and often injured. Neither Luka nor Anthony Davis received any warning. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd knew nothing of the trade. This was the biggest, most shocking trade in NBA history. No one could understand Nico’s plan.
The tough question has to be asked: Is Nico Harrison the right guy for this job?
This isn’t personal. Everyone respects the boldness of his hire and the relationships he brought to the table.
But at some point, results have to matter. The NBA moves fast, and windows don’t stay open forever, especially when you have a generational star who was dragging the team to relevance, who is now no longer on the team. AD (Anthony Davis) is not a bad player, don’t get me wrong. He is going to make it hard to fire Nico Harrison; however, it is not far from reality.
If the Mavericks are serious about contending in the future–about competing for an NBA championship again–maybe it’s time to rethink who’s steering the ship. Nico Harrison has not made the best decisions and is under a lot of pressure from the fans. Was the Luka trade the last string, or are we going to keep repeating the same thing? The Mavericks didn’t even make the playoffs this year. At what point do we draw the line and find someone new?
Nico Harrison betrayed every single Dallas Mavericks fan and there may not be a way for him to come back from this.