Nico Harrison and the Mavericks’ Turning Point

The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world in February when they traded their franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, draft picks, and younger assets. That move instantly placed general manager Nico Harrison under intense scrutiny.

Harrison maintained that the deal was about repositioning Dallas for the future, shifting toward a defense-first identity and avoiding the massive financial commitment of a Luka extension. But the new roster’s flaws were quickly exposed. Davis, while a decorated veteran, came in with a long injury history and again struggled to stay healthy throughout the season.

Then came the drafting of rookie Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, signaling a focus on long-term growth. Yet short-term results told another story. Fan frustration mounted as the Mavericks stumbled to a 3–8 start to the 2025–26 season, and by November, ownership decided it was time to move on from Harrison.

Now, the question lingers: was this the collapse of a failed experiment, or did Harrison simply get burned for trying to build something sustainable too soon?

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