The Dallas Mavericks addressed the foundation of their downside on Tuesday by firing embattled normal supervisor Nico Harrison, however the injury he wreaked can be onerous for the subsequent entrance workplace chief to undo.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported early Tuesday that Harrison’s ouster was imminent, and the workforce moved forward with the decision minutes later.
Nico Harrison firing was lengthy overdue, however disastrous run may hang-out Mavericks for years
Harrison’s dismissal got here lower than 24 hours after the Mavericks (3-8) misplaced to the Milwaukee Bucks (7-5, fifth in Japanese Convention), 116-114. Solely the New Orleans Pelicans (2-8) have a worse document within the Western Convention than Dallas, which is 16-28 for the reason that ill-fated February 2025 Luka Doncic commerce to the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, the Mavericks are averaging an NBA-worst 107.2 factors per recreation.
In the meantime, Doncic, who was a first-team All-NBA choice in every of his final 5 seasons with the Mavericks, is averaging a career-high 37.1 factors per recreation together with 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists on 49.1 p.c capturing for the Lakers, who’re 8-3, fourth in Western Convention.
Energy ahead Anthony Davis, acquired within the Doncic commerce, has missed six consecutive video games with a calf damage, persevering with a troubling development that has adopted the 14-year veteran all through his NBA profession. The Mavs are additionally with out level guard Kyrie Irving, who continues to be recovering from a March 2025 torn Achilles.
Dallas has few tradable property to enhance its roster. With the NBA’s apron guidelines making trades tougher, it could possibly be onerous to discover a suitor for Davis or Irving if each turn out to be obtainable. They’re on contracts price a mixed $97.9 million subsequent season and still have 2027-28 participant choices.
Harrison backed the subsequent normal supervisor additional right into a nook by accepting the lowball Lakers supply that solely included one future first-round choose (2029). Amongst their very own future firsts, the Mavericks haven’t got management of 1 till 2031.
The most effective path ahead could possibly be to half with gamers together with capturing guard Klay Thompson, small ahead Naji Marshall and heart Daniel Gafford, gamers on extra palatable contracts, for future draft capital. That might make the Mavericks even worse within the current, however it might permit them construct round 2025 No. 1 choose Cooper Flagg.
Due to Harrison’s decision-making, it could possibly be years earlier than the Mavericks, who simply two seasons in the past reached the NBA Finals, sniff the postseason once more. Dallas might want to give its subsequent normal supervisor persistence. It solely took one commerce for the Mavs to break down, and it may take a number of extra for them to bounce again.
