Nico Harrison has made it clear: he doesn’t remorse the Luka Doncic commerce even after a nightmare finish to the Dallas Mavericks’ season. The Mavs’ high decision-maker met the media on Tuesday for simply the second time for the reason that Doncic commerce. Harrison barred cameras and recording units from the press session, however the quotes popping out are nonetheless surprising given how poorly the Doncic commerce has performed out for the Mavericks.
Harrison reiterated that he has no regrets about buying and selling Doncic. He caught to the script for why he made the transfer: he believes protection wins championships, and he didn’t assume Doncic may very well be a dependable a part of Dallas’ future on the supermax extension he was due for in the summertime. Within the hours after the Doncic commerce occurred, Harrison leaked to the media that his philosophy is “protection wins championships.” Guess what line he repeated on Tuesday?
Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts simply wrapped up an hour-long session with choose members of Dallas-based media.
“Protection wins championships” was the phrase uttered most frequently.
Could have full protection on @espn this afternoon.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 15, 2025
Somebody ought to in all probability inform Harrison that the Mavs had a greater defensive score with Doncic this season than they did with the participant he was traded for, large man Anthony Davis. Davis obtained damage in his first sport with the Mavs, which isn’t precisely shocking for a participant who has been harm inclined his whole profession, and was already coping with an stomach pressure when he was traded to the Mavs. Issues solely obtained worse from there for Dallas, with a number of starters happening with accidents, together with Kyrie Irving’s devastating torn ACL that may linger nicely into subsequent season. The Mavs don’t have any hope now or sooner or later due to Harrison’s Doncic commerce.
Buying and selling Doncic for the bundle Dallas obtained again was at all times an indefensible choice. It’s clear Mavs’ management is totally delusional by way of how they seen Doncic and the way they approached the commerce. When pressed on the disastrous final result of the commerce up to now, Dallas CEO Rick Welts in contrast it to a different unpopular commerce on the time that labored out nicely: the Warriors dealing Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut in 2012.
.@tim_cato stated on @DLLS_Mavs that Mavs CEO Rick Welts in contrast the Luka Dončić commerce to the his former workforce Warriors buying and selling Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut in 2012.
Unbelievably out of contact.
— Mavs Movie Room (@MavsFilmRoom) April 15, 2025
There simply isn’t any comparability between the 2 trades. Ellis by no means made an All-Star workforce in his profession. Doncic already had 5 First-Staff All-NBA nods to his title by age-25, and he had simply led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. Ellis was traded partially to clear room for an ascendant younger guard named Stephen Curry. The Mavs have nobody can come near doing what Luka does.
Need a greater comparability for this commerce? Attempt the Babe Ruth deal. That one didn’t work out so nicely for the Pink Sox, even when head coach Jason Kidd thinks it’s cool to listen to the comparability.
One other concern tied to the commerce was Doncic’s looming supermax extension, a five-year, $346 million contact that Dallas didn’t need to pay him this summer season. No participant has ever turned down a supermax contract, and Doncic primarily confirmed he was going to signal it within the wake of the commerce (he’s not eligible for the supermax since being traded to the Lakers). Harrison stated he was no assure that Doncic would signal the supermax, which seems like a flat out lie. He caught to his weapons even after ESPN’s Tim MacMahon pushed again on him.
MacMahon: “Luka was gonna signal the supermax. Why did not you signal him & then in the event you actually needed to commerce him” Nico: “Effectively there is not any assure he would signal a supermax” MacMahon: “He has assured it, he was bawling on the bench” Nico: “We are able to agree to disagree” UNREAL!!!
— Jared Christopher (@JaredLChris) April 15, 2025
There are a number of conspiracy theories in regards to the Doncic commerce, but it surely seems like Harrison was absolutely satisfied his workforce would by no means win a championship with Luka on the roster. Harrison was an in depth affiliate of Kobe Bryant throughout his heyday, and he didn’t see Bryant’s killer mentality in Doncic as he typically reported to coaching camp off form.
Harrison is out of his thoughts on this one, too, however the necessary factor is that he actually believes it. Right here’s the road they may placed on Harrison’s skilled grave as soon as he’s fired.
Nico: “My obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks, it is what’s the very best curiosity of the Dallas Mavericks, and that is an important factor. A few of these selections are going to be unpopular perhaps to Dirk and perhaps to the followers, however my obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks.”
— tim cato (@tim_cato) April 15, 2025
Harrison’s timing with this media blitz was additionally weird, taking place a day after the Dallas Wings drafted Paige Bueckers No. 1 total and a day earlier than the Mavs play an elimination sport within the NBA play-in match within the 9/10 matchup. Why couldn’t this wait till after the season is formally over?
NBA followers shall be speaking in regards to the Doncic commerce for many years. Harrison may nonetheless be defending it, but it surely was a nasty commerce the second he made it, and it’s labored out even worse within the quick time period.
If the Mavs need to win again the goodwill of their followers, they need to begin by firing Harrison. Buying and selling Anthony Davis can be an excellent subsequent step, particularly contemplating Kyrie Irving is out most or all of subsequent season. Harrison’s legacy is already safe: he’s the man who made the stupidest commerce in fashionable sports activities historical past. Luka remains to be writing his personal legacy, and now that shall be with the Lakers. The faster this ends, the higher off everybody shall be.
