Dallas Mavericks: New direction about recruitment more than operations

For better or for worse, the Dallas Mavericks fundamentally transformed their direction this offseason. Gone is Donnie Nelson, one of the best international scouts and recruiting minds the NBA has ever seen (he hit on Giannis, Dirk, and Luka, after all). Gone is Rick Carlisle, a world champion and mainstay on all top-5 current NBA coaches lists.

Both fixtures technically represented a mutual parting of the ways, but it was clear there was not a real opportunity for either to remain. Mark Cuban wanted a new direction for his Dallas Mavericks. A direction that made comparisons between the old guard and new guard, an apples to oranges situation…

We can’t compare the Dallas Mavericks old coach/GM with the new, because the jobs are fundamentally different.

If you’re looking at the standard job description, there’s really no way you can conceivably argue the Dallas Mavericks upgraded at coach or at GM. Even with Donnie’s spotty record in the draft, he has a rare eye for international talent, a deep understanding of financials, and a knack for trades.

Carlisle, even more so, is in another league than the man replacing him. He’s done much with little, he’s managed extremely difficult personalities and environments with effectiveness (save for Rondo), and he’s been a brilliant x’s and o’s mind on the dry erase board. We needn’t even delve into the “character” comparison to make the case for Carlisle over Jason Kidd.

it isn’t about outcoaching or out-GM-ing Rick and Donnie, it’s about out-recruiting them. The priorities have changed.

But to compare Nico Harrrison (GM) and Jason Kidd (coach) to Nelson’s and Carlisle’s job description is being unfair and essentially missing the whole point of the hires. That’s because it isn’t about outcoaching or out-GM-ing Rick and Donnie, it’s about out-recruiting them.

As Adithya Prabakaran dove into this weekend in his article about Nico Harrison, this is about recruitment. Players around the NBA love the Dallas Mavericks new GM and that’s why, despite not having actual GM experience, he was a sought-after commodity around the league.

Similarly, Jason Kidd is loved and respected by players around the NBA. His coaching chops don’t hold a candle to someone like Rick Carlisle but Carlisle’s recruitment ability doesn’t hold a candle to Kidd’s.

This is about becoming a desirable place for star players. Plain and simple. After years of striking out in free agency and seeing star players demand trades to cities not named “Dallas”, the Mavs are shifting gears. They are focusing on sales even if it comes at the cost of operations.