It didn’t come as a surprise in the slightest that the Dallas Mavericks officially moved on from general manager Nico Harrison. Harrison’s tenure ended amid growing dissatisfaction, particularly following a controversial decision that many believe cost the team dearly.
One of the most criticized moves was Harrison’s decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers—a trade that, to this day, makes little sense to Mavericks fans. Unfortunately, while firing Harrison might be the right move for the franchise now, it doesn’t bring Luka Doncic back.
The Mavericks have been one of the worst teams in the NBA to start the season. Although injuries have played a role in their struggles, it’s clear that some of the management decisions, including Harrison’s, have not worked out. Even if the Mavericks had gone on to win a championship under Harrison’s leadership, many would still have questioned the wisdom of his moves.
As Dallas looks to hire a new general manager, the organization has announced it will conduct a comprehensive search for the best long-term candidate. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, several names are already being considered.
Stein reports that many within the Mavericks organization hold Dennis Lindsey in high regard. Lindsey, who currently works with the Detroit Pistons, previously served as an adviser to Harrison and has a strong reputation. “There has already been a push among some of the organization’s influential voices to try to bring back former Harrison adviser Dennis Lindsey from the Detroit Pistons,” Stein wrote.
In the meantime, Dallas has appointed assistant GMs Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley as co-interim general managers while they conduct the external search.
The Mavericks should attract multiple suitors for the GM position. With promising young talent like Cooper Flagg on the roster, the organization doesn’t need a complete overhaul—an appealing factor for prospective candidates hoping to build on the foundation that’s already in place.
As the search unfolds, Mavericks fans will be eager to see who takes the reins and leads the team back to contention in the seasons ahead.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/mavericks-reportedly-have-favorite-in-building-for-nico-harrisons-replacement-11038201