Mavs weigh Nico's Future

[NyKnicks1714]

If he is fired I'd expect Adelson will muzzle him, but if not, he should tell all about what really happened.

Not sure what they can do to keep him quiet, but let's say he goes out and tells the media that ownership drove the Luka trade because they didn't want to pay him. Other owners won't want to hire a guy who would do that. He potentially has something to lose and not much to gain.

Owners aren't going to hire him regardless. His reputation is in the mud. He's a weasel for going along with it if it was an ownership move, but he might gain back some dignity if he takes them down with him.

I mean among fans, sure. Owners? They don't care about that. He might not get another gig anyway because of the bad PR, but bashing Mavs ownership won't do him any favors with the league's other owners.

[Lalouie]

I think it's more Dallas sux now and Cooper is sucking even worse and they're not doing anything to support flagg. they got him with a bunch of injured people but also Klay Thompson is a wash

ad is also doing what he always does,,,,getting injured

[Black Jack]

Are we still focusing on the fall guy?

It's exactly what ownership wants and they've done a great job of making him the scapegoat. The Luka trade happened because they didn't want to pay him the Supermax. That's what drove it. But instead of chanting "sell the team", Mavs fans chant "Fire Nico". They'll of course eventually fire him to satiate fans and get back on their good side.

Fire him and trade Davis. Mavs can actually have an exciting rebuild starting. I know they don’t own all their future picks. I think getting back 2027 1st owed Charlotte would be priority in a Davis trade. Then have 2x years to draft around Flagg - including 2026 great top-end draft.

absolutely Mavs should send everyone tradable over 25 yrs old away and rebuild around Flagg. most likely a new GM will be brought in to do that.

[Effigy]

It's exactly what ownership wants and they've done a great job of making him the scapegoat. The Luka trade happened because they didn't want to pay him the Supermax. That's what drove it. But instead of chanting "sell the team", Mavs fans chant "Fire Nico". They'll of course eventually fire him to satiate fans and get back on their good side.

Lol. That's not why it happened. You could have traded him anywhere in the league and got actual value and not had to pay him the supermax.

Yes yes, let's believe the conspiracies instead of the obvious answer that is right in front of us.

What's the obvious answer? that a guy who is clearly very smart, decided to take a bad trade with only one team because he wanted to get out of the Super max? That doesn't even make a hint of sense. As I pointed out, they'd get out of the super max by trading him ANYWHERE. I understand some people just have to believe everything they are told, but come on, a LITTLE critical thinking isn't too much to ask, is it? Why did the Mavs only talk to the Lakers? Why did they not insist on every first round pick they could offer and Reeves? Why did a very smart guy make a trade that was so bad that it took a team from the finals to the lottery and still keep his job? And the Mavs wound up getting the number one pick right after. Amazing coincidence! The trade happened right before the Lakers got sold, making the NBA's most valuable franchise even more valuable. Another amazing coincidence!

[druggas]

I think it's been long decided to fire him. They're just putting it out there to see if there will be any backlash.

[DusterBuster]

Read on Twitter

[41Dirk41]

I don't care if Harrison is the fall guy (i think it was a business move between Pelinka-Buss and Dumont-Harrison with the Silver supervision) but he has to go because he is the only one who can make another very stupid move to save his ass.

Players and fanbase need a fresh start. The vibes around the team are awful. Just a fresh start.

[Lalouie]

nico and flagg
=
steiger and brando

[Shock Defeat]

even if a gifted #1 draft pick could not save the disatrous situation that Nico created, crazy

[JimmyFromNz]

Yes to all of the past Nico criticism.

No to the sky is falling commentary 10 games in.

What do you expect when Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Lively have been out and you're asking a 19 year old to run the team alongside a bench squad. Super impose that into any team situation and 90% of the time you will receive similar results.

Yes there is inherent injury risk with the personnel on this team, but it can turn around very quickly.

[LascelleL]

Do I believe that Nico Harrison was ordered from ownership because Adam Silver told them he wanted a deal to make the Lakers get a 10B valuation? Hell Yes.

Nico was a legit fall guy. He'll have a nice cushy job either in the league or directly with Adam silver's office.

[NyKnicks1714]

Lol. That's not why it happened. You could have traded him anywhere in the league and got actual value and not had to pay him the supermax.

Yes yes, let's believe the conspiracies instead of the obvious answer that is right in front of us.

What's the obvious answer? that a guy who is clearly very smart, decided to take a bad trade with only one team because he wanted to get out of the Super max? That doesn't even make a hint of sense. As I pointed out, they'd get out of the super max by trading him ANYWHERE. I understand some people just have to believe everything they are told, but come on, a LITTLE critical thinking isn't too much to ask, is it? Why did the Mavs only talk to the Lakers? Why did they not insist on every first round pick they could offer and Reeves? Why did a very smart guy make a trade that was so bad that it took a team from the finals to the lottery and still keep his job? And the Mavs wound up getting the number one pick right after. Amazing coincidence! The trade happened right before the Lakers got sold, making the NBA's most valuable franchise even more valuable. Another amazing coincidence!

They didn't want to pay him the Supermax, for whatever reasons, so they directed Nico to trade him. Most people chose to forget that AD is a top 10 player and ignored the fact that he was likely the best player they could have gotten for Luka, but I did not. If Kyrie didn't get hurt they could have fielded a pretty decent team last season. They clearly wanted a win-now move, not a package centered on a bunch of 1sts.

If you want to instead believe it's more reasonable that the NBA orchestrated the trade to get Luka to the Lakers and rewarded Dallas with the number one overall pick (which among other things would have required all other NBA teams to be in on it, without any leaks...but at this point that's not too big a stretch), go for it.

[Jadoogar]

A trade like this doesn't happen without owner approval. He's just throwing Nico under the bus.
It's absolutely an insane trade but the blame can't be solely on Nico.

[Jadoogar]

Yes to all of the past Nico criticism.

No to the sky is falling commentary 10 games in.

What do you expect when Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Lively have been out and you're asking a 19 year old to run the team alongside a bench squad. Super impose that into any team situation and 90% of the time you will receive similar results.

Yes there is inherent injury risk with the personnel on this team, but it can turn around very quickly.

Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving missing games??? Who could have seen that coming?

[fansse]

There is no weighting or discussion to be had - should of been fired day 1 after the trade

[Luke]

People that believe that Nico Harrison has something to do with the Luka trade, are pretty naive.

Nico executed a tall order and got the blame : this is his job and this is what he is paid for.

I still love this game because it's the most entertaining in the world; but it's pure entertainment, with a little bit of competition, nothing else.

[Mr Puddles]

It was a bad trade because Luka's a generational talent, even if a bit lazy. You accept the laziness when the talent is that great.

However, the lack of success early is basically because Kyrie and AD are both injured. You can't fully judge him until both of those players are on the court.

So I guess we'll never know then...

[M2J]

I will quote myself from several months ago, when the trade was fresh:



it made no real sense for the owner to push to trade Luka. He was his money machine and Davis was goiing to be paid more than him.
Dumont for some reason trusted Nico, and Nico qas FOS.

Like I said in my previous post in this thread. It's all conspiracy theories as to why they trade Luka. But make no mistake the owner traded.

As a person who knows several wealthy people and how they oftentimes do business. It can often be personal. Again conspiracy time. But, it could be that Luka didn't want to go play golf with him.... Still saw Mark Cuban as his owner? So Patrick reduced Cubans status and when Luca didn't play ball and network with the owner... And he's also injured at the time... And he's also not playing defense.. And the overwhelming theory out of the finals was that they lost because Luka didn't play defense... Bye

Something always changes when there's new ownership for these sports teams. Sometimes his leadership. Coach and GM. Sometimes it's franchise player. This move fully fits that bill. For example in Boston they won a ring and now they've blown up their team and part due to the injury, but that was happening due to the tax anyways. In LA Jeannie is supposedly still the governor, but they're actively plotting to get rid of LeBron

Your last statement is absolutely correct. Patrick looks like this type of guy.

But even with this is mind we can't explain the modest return for Luka. OK, you need to make a deal with Lakers (because of some business part not related to basketball). At least ask to add Reaves on reasonable contract or more picks.

Sigh... We are discussing this absurd package for millionth time making new rounds in every thread.

That's a matter of perspective still at this point... Considering... Many factors, but they got a package that includes AD who was well on his way to first team all NBA at the time of the trade and could be traded for multiple picks. Max Christie was pretty proven in LA and hasn't disappointed... Likely was seen as a first round pick in this trade and could get a first rounder or 2 conditionals from teams. Fits well as a piece next to Cooper ongoing and Derick Lively who Nico drafted. They did get a first round pick in '29 that they could maybe trade now


Plus PJ and Gafford are clear assets that could move for draft capital or young talent. Brought in by Nico

End of the day this is all too emotional for ownership to make that kinda move at that point in the season

[Dark Faze]

You might as well at least let them have a season with the team as it was intended (Kyrie+AD).

I would be very hesitant to allow any major trades or free agent signings, but I'd want to give him a chance at having the assembled team together. There's not much else to do anyway if this is a failure. You hire a new GM to begin the firesale.

[FrodoFraggins]

I thought ownership had him trade Luka...? Or at least okayed the trade?

If not, then he should've been fired a long time ago.

Well of course they ok'ed the trade, ownership must approve every trade. But if you are respected GM and ownership comes to you with request to make this trade, you resign, plain and simple. I have zero empathy to Nico is some kind of fall guy, he knew what he was doing. Even if owners wanted to trade Luka, his job is to find a good trade. It is Luka Doncic who was 25 years old coming from finals appearance, and he traded him for older AD and some scraps, it is worst trade of all time for a reason, pure insanity return, charity for the Lakers.

I haven't done enough research on this, but it seems odd because I agree with you. Why not get the best deal possible? That is, if you absolutely have to trade Luka.

By best deal I mean let the league know he's available and look at all the offers. Then make a decision.

I get the impression that they didn't want him being on the market to leak. That seems to limit what offers they'd get. I just have a hard time believing that AD was the prize they wanted all along.