3 Mavericks on Thin Ice Heading Into the Playoffs
By Cem Yolbulan
3. GM Nico Harrison
If you have one of the best basketball players in the world in Luka Doncic and one of the best second options in the NBA in Kyrie Irving, it is up to the general manager to construct the optimal roster around them.
The Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was given that task by owner Mark Cuban three years ago.
Since then, Harrison pulled a slew of trades and free agency moves to construct a winning team around Luka Doncic. He has, however, had mixed results.
One of the greatest fumbles any front office had over the last decade in the NBA was the Mavericks' decision to let Jalen Brunson walk. After not giving him the contract extension he desired, Harrison and Dallas took the risk of unrestricted free agency with Brunson. He went on to sign with the Knicks and became an All-NBA level star.
In a panic move to salvage the Doncic era, the Mavs traded for Kyrie Irving last season. It was a disaster in 2022-23 as Dallas missed the postseason entirely. This season at the trade deadline, he continued his splurge by giving up two first-round picks to bring in Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington to bolster their frontcourt.
Throughout all of this, the Mavs moved almost their entire future draft assets while also giving up valuable role players like Dorian Finney-Smith.
More than anyone else in the organization, Nico Harrison needs these moves to work in the playoffs. Gafford and Washington, who have very limited postseason experience on their resumes have to prove that they were worth the valuable first-round picks.
Otherwise, the heat will be on this front office, which regularly botched roster construction around Doncic. A deep postseason run this year is almost a must to prove Nico Harrison is the right man for the job.
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