The job security of Nico Harrison as general manager of the Dallas Mavericks appears to be in question as the team continues a difficult start to their first full season following the Luka Doncic trade.
Sources tell Marc Stein that "the rising and virtually ceaseless negativity that surrounds the franchise is indeed wearing on and troubling ownership."
Patrick Dumont had stood behind Harrison's decision to trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers because the governor of the Mavericks was the one who also signed off on the decision. Dumont would prefer to give Harrison more time for the Mavericks to turn around their season, but the results and morale around the team could become untenable if they continue in their current form.
Stein writes that parting ways with Harrison would be "taken not only for its vibe shift potential and as a means to try to win back alienated fans … but also based on the premise that the front office executive who conceived and pushed for the widely criticized Doncic deal can no longer be the one trying to pilot the organization past it."
Harrison was hired to run the Mavericks in 2021 in partnership with former governor Mark Cuban. When Cuban sold a majority stake to the Adelson/Dumont family, Harrison eventually took on a bigger role as the Mavericks reached the Finals in 2024. With Doncic suffering a calf strain in December 2024, Harrison began clandestine trade talks with Rob Pelinka before eventually agreeing to a trade on the evening of February 1st, 2025.
Sources tell Marc Stein that "the rising and virtually ceaseless negativity that surrounds the franchise is indeed wearing on and troubling ownership."
Patrick Dumont had stood behind Harrison's decision to trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers because the governor of the Mavericks was the one who also signed off on the decision. Dumont would prefer to give Harrison more time for the Mavericks to turn around their season, but the results and morale around the team could become untenable if they continue in their current form.
Stein writes that parting ways with Harrison would be "taken not only for its vibe shift potential and as a means to try to win back alienated fans … but also based on the premise that the front office executive who conceived and pushed for the widely criticized Doncic deal can no longer be the one trying to pilot the organization past it."
Harrison was hired to run the Mavericks in 2021 in partnership with former governor Mark Cuban. When Cuban sold a majority stake to the Adelson/Dumont family, Harrison eventually took on a bigger role as the Mavericks reached the Finals in 2024. With Doncic suffering a calf strain in December 2024, Harrison began clandestine trade talks with Rob Pelinka before eventually agreeing to a trade on the evening of February 1st, 2025.
