You're hired as the Mavericks new GM. What is your gameplan for the next 5 years?

[dantas]

Mavs are in a good position, with a promising young player (Flagg) and valuable trade assets (Irving, AD). There are franchises in much worse shape.

Perhaps their biggest regret is that, with Luka, they came so close to winning a title. They eliminated OKC in 2024. With everyone healthy and a few minor adjustments, they could have won a championship within the next 3–4 years (2025–2028).

Now they have to wait for Flagg to develop. I believe he has a bright future and, in the worst-case scenario, could become a solid second star. But it will take him a few years to become a reliable contributor. As a result, their championship window has been pushed back by a few years. If all goes well (Flagg develops and stays healthy), they should be competing for a title between 2029 and 2032, not 2025 to 2028. They still have the assets (Irving, AD) to make trades and build a team ready to contend starting around 2029.

[ConSarnit]

I like how they keep spinning it as Nico trading Luka, or the Mavs traded Luka.

The league traded Luka to the Lakers. And firing the GM isn't going to be sufficient damage control.

That's not the question, most of us know the league traded Luka to the Lakers. The question is what would you do if you were hired to be the next GM for the Mavericks despite that situation

So if the league traded Luka to the Lakers shouldn’t we expect Nico to spill the beans on this conspiracy? I mean, the guy has his rep destroyed and got fired 10 months after the trade happened. What incentive does Nico have to keep all of this a secret now? Why would agree to keep quiet after getting fired so quickly after the trade and becoming a laughing stock across the NBA?

[TheGOATWill]

I like how they keep spinning it as Nico trading Luka, or the Mavs traded Luka.

The league traded Luka to the Lakers. And firing the GM isn't going to be sufficient damage control.

Does "the league" mean Silver? If so, how does he get buy in from the 30 NBA owners. Keeping in mind Adam Silver is their employee. break down the pitch to:

The Lakers owner
The Mavs owner
And a random team, let's say Gayle Benson in New Orleans

[Baz]

Honestly, the first step for the Mavericks is rebuilding trust with their fanbase. If that requires trying to win around this core you do it even though that means accepting a low ceiling. If by contrast the fans just want AD/Kyrie gone for a fresh start you trade them. But rebuilding trust with the fans is the first step not trying to maximize title odds.

This ownership completely stabbed us in the back and what they did in my mind was unforgivable. I hope they give up and sell ASAP. We're in the dark timeline now!

[jpengland]

Fire Kidd. Then fire him again to be sure.

Trade AD for Castle and whatever draft capital
I can get from the Spurs

Put everybody not named Flagg or Lively on the block for draft capital.

Tank this season hard whilst getting Flagg reps at the 3/4 with only one big man on the court with him at any time.

[Johnny Bball]

Trading with Charlotte to get the top two protected pick back for starters. I can either try to compete in two years and that pick will likely suck, or they can allow me to get a fair deal or slight overpay for what would be an end of lottery pick.

Tank next two years. Trading everyone but Flagg for picks/less salary, starting with Davis. Using cap space to take unwanted players with salary in the next two years (that should come with picks). Planning to compete well in third year.

And build the biggest firewall between me and Adelson that the world has ever seen so they do not meddle. No nepo hires.

[Captain_Obvious]

During interview: Develop a direction/strategy and get the ok from the stakeholders. Prefer a tank job.

1) Cooper Flagg.
2) Clear house. Get a list of people your predecessor either promoted or hired. Those people were his yes men and enablers - most likely with no redeeming skill, quality and no backbone. Kidd and Finley need a deep review as well.
3) Clear communication with the players. Vets need clarity of the direction and deserve that.
4) Put AD on ice and let him recover from the calf strain.
5) Be opportunistic - there is no deadline for moves if you don't like it - including the TDL

[dhsilv2]

I like how they keep spinning it as Nico trading Luka, or the Mavs traded Luka.

The league traded Luka to the Lakers. And firing the GM isn't going to be sufficient damage control.

Does "the league" mean Silver? If so, how does he get buy in from the 30 NBA owners. Keeping in mind Adam Silver is their employee. break down the pitch to:

The Lakers owner
The Mavs owner
And a random team, let's say Gayle Benson in New Orleans

Silver doesn't do anything man. He's the voice of the owners and nothing more.

[Pointgod]

Most important thing is bringing in players that fit with Flagg’s timeline. Tank for this season and trade the vets for picks and cap space. Bring in young guys that actually fit around Flagg.

[Memories]

Keep Flagg, Christie and Lively as your core 3.

Trade EVERYBODY else for picks/young talent. Go all in tank mode for a couple of years. No better time to do that than now with a great 2026 class.

[ShootersShoot]

1- rebuild connection with the fans and community.

2- curse Nico for all the nonsense with your near future 1sts (the swaps and such.

3- buy low on someone like Devin Carter and see if a change of scenery helps them. Not saying they’re going to be amazing, but it could be an interesting cheap risk.

4- pray some team looks at D’Angelo like he’s a good cheap option.

5- you’re probably stuck with Kidd for a while. I don’t think it’s an awful thing.

6- Hope for draft luck again and realize you can’t really change much up until after next season anyway

DLo is on a 2 year 5.7mill per year contract with a player option next season. He is the least of their problems.

[The Laker Kid]

I would sign Luka Samanic . Hey at least we got Luka again.

[JasonStern]

Mavs fans will hate me, but you trade Davis and Kyrie. You can realistically get 4-5 (protected) 1st round picks and maybe some pick swaps. Then, you invest heavily in scouting. Tank this season. Get a solid player. 2027 pick probably conveys, but you're sitting on a decent enough amount of draft capital to continue to draft/develop or make a move if the rebuild appears ahead of schedule.

Or keep doing what hasn't worked. Not my franchise. Although I do see the similarities.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Dump anybody (sans Flagg) to the highest bidder. And start over.

1) I'll have a lot of goodwill automatically... for NOT being Nico Harrison. It can be spun with fans/media that a full rebuild was necessary after Harrison messed up. Of course it’s not really quite that dire, but why not use Harrison as a doormat to protect my job. Which brings up #2…

2) And build slowly. New GMs taking a team from the dumps have a longer runway/shelf life than those with huge expectations.

3) The Mavs don’t have the horses to compete now anyway. So I’m insulating myself in this rebuild for as long as possible so I can make more money… all the while hoping or good luck in the draft (or young players) to improve organically.

[Doctor MJ]

You're hired as the Mavericks new GM to take over after the Nico Harrison debacle. What is your gameplan for the next 5 years?

Key notes

You have your 2026 1st rounder(Which happens to be in a very loaded draft class)

Your 2027 pick is top 2 protected. Otherwise, it conveys to Charlotte

Your 2028 pick can be swapped by OKC(This pick is pretty much gone)

Your 2029 pick can be swapped by Houston(Also likely gone)

Your 2030 pick is swappable by the Spurs

So whether I'm the owner or the GM, my focus is on hiring a front office that is absolutely top notch at draft scouting. Nominally this is about building around Cooper, but I expect I'd be mostly just thinking BPA. You're trying to create a young core with multiple future all-star level players on it.

As GM, and as someone who wouldn't be trying to substitute his own preferences for my scouts, I'd be looking to make trades that bring in picks. So AD & Kyrie, if I can get picks for them, I do it.

Oh also, I may well fire Kidd immediately. It's not just that I think there are better coaches, but the fact that you have to expect that if you don't fire Kidd, he'll eventually try to get you fired. I frankly don't know why any GM would want to hire Kidd in any position because you just have to expect that he will look to betray you and grab power for himself.

[FarBeyondDriven]

doesn't have to do much since Nico set them up for success. Just let AD and Kyrie get healthy. Hope that happens in time to sneak into the playoffs. Come playoffs, Flagg will have a full season under his belt and the Mavs would be a very tough out. It might be a tough ask for this season due to injuries though. Next season just keep adding talent around the Big Three via the draft, maybe backup PG and provided health, they'll be a playoff team ready to make a deep run.

The Mavs are in better shape now than they would have been had they kept Luka

[JXL]

Trade AD, trade Washington, trade Klay, trade Gafford.

Build around Cooper Flagg's strengths. Tank for 2 years.

Notice I didn't say trade Kyrie, only because teams need to see what he looks like after his ACL surgery, and that can take a good while.

2026 draft, get a top 5 pick, get either Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybansta

2027 draft, hope to keep that pick and get a PG from that draft

[chrbal]

1- rebuild connection with the fans and community.

2- curse Nico for all the nonsense with your near future 1sts (the swaps and such.

3- buy low on someone like Devin Carter and see if a change of scenery helps them. Not saying they’re going to be amazing, but it could be an interesting cheap risk.

4- pray some team looks at D’Angelo like he’s a good cheap option.

5- you’re probably stuck with Kidd for a while. I don’t think it’s an awful thing.

6- Hope for draft luck again and realize you can’t really change much up until after next season anyway

DLo is on a 2 year 5.7mill per year contract with a player option next season. He is the least of their problems.

I get that, I would just try to clean house other than a few. I think he’s easily tradeable