The NBA world is still trying to process one of the most shocking trades in league history. In a move no one saw coming, the Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Dončić — arguably a top-three player in the world — to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. It was a franchise-altering decision that left Mavs fans stunned and scrambling for answers.
Trading a generational talent like Dončić is the kind of move that shapes an organization’s trajectory for the next decade. It’s the type of deal that, if it backfires, gets people fired. But in Dallas, it seems like one key decision-maker won’t be around to see the long-term consequences of the trade.
Reports have now surfaced that Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison doesn’t intend to stay in his role much longer, raising even more questions about how this blockbuster trade came together.
Nico Harrison’s Possible Exit Explains a Lot
If Harrison doesn’t plan to remain with the Mavericks, it sheds new light on his approach to the Dončić trade. From the outside, it looked like a short-sighted move — dealing a 25-year-old superstar for a 31-year-old big man without securing multiple first-round picks in return. Now, with the news that Harrison might not be here for the long haul, his strategy makes a lot more sense, even if it’s a terrible way to run a franchise.
It also reframes a quote from Harrison that didn’t raise many eyebrows at the time but now feels incredibly revealing.
“The future to me is 3-4 years from now. The future 10 years from now … they’ll probably bury me and [Jason Kidd] by then. Or we’ll bury ourselves.”
Nico Harrison at the the Dallas Mavericks press conference:
“The future to me is 3-4 years from now. The future 10 years from now… They’ll probably bury me and [Jason Kidd] by then, or we’ll bury ourselves.”
Not what you want to hear from your GM.pic.twitter.com/uZ5oYpLtu8
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) February 2, 2025
That’s not exactly the mindset of someone committed to building a sustainable winner. Instead of thinking about what’s best for the Mavericks for the next decade, it appears Harrison focused solely on the present, perhaps knowing he wouldn’t be around to deal with the aftermath.
Whispers of a Lack of Long-Term Desire With the Mavericks
A report circulating from multiple sources within the team and the league expressed that Harrison’s future with the Mavericks has always been in question.
As one post from Mike Piellucci on X (formerly known as Twitter) states, quoting an article from Tim Cato on DLLS Mavs, “There has been belief, which multiple team and league sources expressed to me over the past months long before this trade, that Harrison does not have a long-term desire to remain in his current role as general manager.”
"There has been belief, which multiple team and league sources expressed to me over the past months long before this trade, that Harrison does not have a long-term desire to remain in his current role as general manager."
Seems like a pertinent thing for an owner to know! https://t.co/rJWPbpuJI2
— Mike Piellucci (@mikelikessports) February 4, 2025
This could explain the possible lack of long-term strategy behind one of the biggest trades in recent memory, especially when considering that Harrison was in charge of it and how almost nobody had any clue it was coming.
The idea that Harrison might have known he wouldn’t be around for the aftermath certainly casts a shadow on his decision-making process.
Does This Move Make the Mavericks Better?
From an ownership perspective, this is a nightmare. If Mark Cuban had known Harrison wasn’t in it for the long term, would he still trust him to handle the most important trade in franchise history (albeit, he only holds a minority share after selling the majority ownership to the Adelson family, though that could further explain the situation)?
SEE MORE: Mavericks Depth Chart: What the Team Looks Like After Massive Luka Dončić Trade
Despite all the turmoil, the Mavericks still have a team that can compete in the present. Pairing Davis with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson gives Dallas a strong core, and in the short term, it makes them a more balanced team. Davis is an elite defensive anchor, and his presence gives the Mavs something they lacked even with Dončić — rim protection paired with interior defensive dominance.
But will it be enough? Losing a player of Dončić’s caliber is a devastating blow, and there’s no guarantee Davis stays healthy.
