NBA Swing: Dallas Mavericks Fire Nico Harrison; Fire Sale Incoming?

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DALLAS, TX — The Dallas Mavericks took drastic action on Tuesday morning, firing General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Nico Harrison in a move that many within the organization and the fanbase have called for since the night he traded superstar point guard Luka Dončić in February.

Harrison’s legacy as an executive has always been defined by a history of controversial choices, pre-dating his time with the Mavericks—famously having a meeting with Stephen Curry during his tenure as a Nike executive that ultimately led to Curry signing with Under Armour.

The Burden of a Bad Trade

Harrison joined the Mavericks as the GM and President of Basketball Operations in June 2021. While his tenure included two trips to the Western Conference Finals and an appearance in the 2024 NBA Finals, it was marred by a series of executive missteps: trading away Kristaps Porziņģis (who became a key piece in the Boston Celtics’ 2024 championship), letting Jalen Brunson walk to the New York Knicks (where he became one of the league’s best guards), and finally, the league-altering decision to trade Dončić.

The Dončić trade, done without the superstar requesting a move, has been widely labeled one of the worst trades of all time. The package sent to acquire a short-lived core of Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick essentially gutted the franchise’s near-term future. While the resulting injuries to Davis and Kyrie Irving helped the Mavs land the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, that silver lining came at the cost of the fanbase, who turned on the organization and began openly chanting for Harrison’s firing at games.

Dumont’s Admission and the State of the Franchise

In an open letter to fans, Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont acknowledged the frustration and that the team would not meet expectations, directly leading to Harrison’s dismissal. Though he avoided mentioning the Dončić trade in the letter, Dumont was seen talking to a fan courtside during Monday’s 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he publicly admitted the Dončić trade was a mistake, despite having good intentions for the team.

The Mavericks are now in a precarious spot. As of November 12th, the team sits at 3-8, the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

Injury Report: Kyrie Irving is not expected to return from his ACL injury until 2026. Anthony Davis has played only five games this season due to chronic injury issues.
Veteran Struggles: Klay Thompson has looked like a shell of his former self, averaging a career-low 7.4 PPG on career-low shooting percentages from both the field (31%) and three (26%).
Draft Capital: The Mavs do not control their first-round draft pick until 2031, limiting their flexibility.

The Trade Deadline Question: Build Around Flagg?

On the bright side, the Mavericks possess the future of their franchise in rookie Cooper Flagg. With Harrison out and the team facing a “two-timelines” conundrum, Dallas’s best option may be to launch a complete rebuild around Flagg by moving veteran pieces.

Within 24 hours of the firing, trade speculation is already running rampant:

Anthony Davis: Despite averaging 20.8 PPG and 10.2 RPG in his five games this season, the 30-year-old’s injury history makes him a poor fit for a Flagg-centric rebuild. With Davis owed $179 million through next season, several Eastern Conference teams in win-now mode could be interested in acquiring his services, potentially giving Dallas pieces to build around Flagg.
Klay Thompson: Thompson’s performance struggles and his remaining $33 million owed over the next two seasons may make it difficult for the Mavericks to find a viable trade partner.
Kyrie Irving: Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, there have been no rumblings of Irving being in trade talks as the team focuses on his return, even if it takes until next season to get him back to 100%. Irving is signed through the next two seasons with a player option for 2027-28.

For Dallas, the immediate focus must be to regain the trust of the fanbase following the disastrous end to the Harrison era. The firing gives hope for a better future, but the necessary teardown and rebuild around Cooper Flagg is just beginning.