DALLAS โ Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison underestimated the deep connection fans felt for Luka Doncic before executing the trade that sent the emerging star to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Despite ongoing criticism from fans demanding his dismissal during the 2 1/2 months following the trade, Harrison maintains it was a strategic decision to position the Mavericks as championship contenders.
โI recognized Lukaโs significance to the fan base,โ Harrison commented Monday in a press briefing concluding the season, held six days post a more intimate meeting with select reporters aimed at shifting focus away from the widely debated Doncic trade. โI just underestimated the extent of that connection.โ
Harrison anticipated backlash from the move but believed it would subside if Davis, alongside Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II, had more time on the court throughout the season. However, this lineup has yet to share the floor, with Davis enduring less than three quarters paired with Irving before succumbing to a groin injury during his Dallas debut. During Davisโs absence, Irving sustained an ACL tear in his left knee.
โWe believe thatโs a championship-caliber team that would have turned down the criticism through high-level victories,โ Harrison stated concerning fansโ continued affinity for Doncic. โUnfortunately, injuries prevented us, and the discontent persisted.โ
At certain points during Davisโs recovery, the Mavericks struggled to meet the NBAโs minimum player requirement for games. Once Davis returned, the team stabilized enough to secure the final position in the Western Conference play-in tournament at the No. 10 spot. They claimed victory over Sacramento to contend for the eighth playoff seed but were ultimately defeated by Memphis.
Harrison expressed confidence in Dallas securing a strong pick in the upcoming first draft round, where they hold the 11th spot, and hinted at potential adjustments during free agency. When queried about what the Mavericks needed to re-emerge as contenders, Harrison responded, โWe just need to get healthy. I believe the returning roster is championship-material. We fully expect to have Kyrie back with us next season once he recuperates. Weโre confident weโll be in championship contention.โ
Following his numerous assertions last week that โdefense wins championshipsโ in defense of the trade decision, Doncic, speaking with ESPN, labeled the situation as โsad,โ expressing a desire to move forward. Harrison, who acknowledged not conversing with the five-time All-NBA Doncic, who previously led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, was queried about this and noted, โI feel similarly. Iโve never spoken poorly of Luka and am eager to move on with the current team.โ