Introduction to the Trade
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison says he miscalculated the depth of love his club’s fans had for Luka Doncic before the trade that sent the young superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
The Trade and Its Aftermath
Despite the persistent catcalls from fans for him to be fired in the 2 1/2 months since the deal, Harrison still believes it was the right move for building a championship contender in Dallas. “I did know that Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison said Monday during his season-ending news conference, six days after a session with a smaller group of reporters that the club called to try to move on from the exhaustively discussed Doncic trade. “I didn’t quite know it to what level.”
Expectations vs. Reality
As he has said before, Harrison expected plenty of blowback from the trade, but thought it would have eased sooner if Davis had been able to play with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II for most of the rest of the season. Instead, those five haven’t played together yet, and the star combo of Davis and Irving shared less than three quarters together before Davis injured a groin in his Dallas debut. Irving tore the ACL in his left knee while Davis was out.
The Team’s Performance
The Mavericks almost didn’t have enough players to meet the NBA’s minimum requirement for several games while Davis was sidelined. Once he returned, the Mavs steadied themselves and qualified for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament at No. 10. Dallas won at Sacramento for a shot at the eighth seed in the playoffs before losing at Memphis.
Future Plans
Harrison said he believed the Mavs would get a good player in the first round of the draft, where they are currently slated to pick 11th. He also didn’t rule out changes in free agency. But when asked what Dallas needed to become a contender again, Harrison said, “Really, we just need to get healthy. I think the team we’re bringing back is a championship-caliber. We fully expect to have Kyrie back with us next year when he gets healed from his injury. And we believe we’ll be competing for a championship.”
Reaction to Criticism
After Harrison said repeatedly last week that “defense wins championships” while defending the trade, Doncic was asked by ESPN his reaction to the session, saying it was “sad” what Harrison was saying and he wanted to move on. Harrison, who said last week he still hasn’t spoken to the five-time All-NBA player who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, was asked about that exchange and said, “I feel the same way he does. I’ve actually never spoken ill of Luka, and I’m just ready to move on with this team that we have.”
NBC 5 sports director Newy Scruggs shares his takeaways from an invitation-only media session with Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nico Harrison’s comments highlight the challenges of making tough decisions in the NBA, where fan sentiment and team performance can be closely intertwined. While Harrison believes the trade was the right move, the reactions of fans and players like Luka Doncic demonstrate the complexity of such decisions.
FAQs
- Q: Why did Nico Harrison trade Luka Doncic?
A: Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, believing it was the right move to build a championship contender in Dallas. - Q: How have Mavericks fans reacted to the trade?
A: Mavericks fans have been critical of the trade, with many calling for Harrison to be fired. - Q: What are the Mavericks’ plans for the future?
A: The Mavericks are looking to get healthy and compete for a championship next year, with the expected return of Kyrie Irving from injury. - Q: Has Nico Harrison spoken to Luka Doncic since the trade?
A: No, Harrison has not spoken to Doncic since the trade. - Q: What is the current status of the Mavericks’ roster?
A: The Mavericks are currently slated to pick 11th in the draft and may make changes in free agency to bolster their roster.
