If not for multiple injuries, the Dallas Mavericks could have been a contender. Even though it’s not a reality, GM Nico Harrison has been echoing this sentiment since trading away Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. It’s been two and a half months, but each passing day, new reports emerge that continue to put a bad light on the team’s GM. However, Charles Barkley, who did not criticise the trade from the beginning, details other people responsible for the trade.
Before the Play-in and after the exit, Harrison did two press conferences. The former was dubbed a media roundtable with limited handpicked reporters, while the latter was open to all, seemingly mandatory by the league. Neither of them did favors improving the 52-year-old’s decision process or his image. On the recent broadcast of Inside the NBA, the crew gave the GM some important advice, starting with Shaquille O’Neal.
“My advice to you, brother, is just do your job and just go with the flow. As long as the owners got your back, you should be fine,” said Shaq. Agreeing with the thought process, even Charles Barkley chimed in.
“And the owner should have his back because clearly the owners threw him under the bus. I don’t know Nico that well. I know him a little bit. He not going to trade Luka Doncic without the owners doing that. And now he’s taking all the bullets and rightfully so, because that’s the job.” The ownership was hands-on with their process, at least that’s what Harrison has informed in the past.
From a Mavs perspective, it’s just a hit-and-hope strategy. But he does claim that Patrick Dumont was fully behind the idea once he provided clarity on the topic. “We’re a very process-oriented organization. And everything we do is without emotion and goes through the lens of process. And so once we had those substantive discussions, then he saw the vision.”
Charles Barkley is supporting the Mavs GM, despite the continuous media debacle with the vision
Before Chuck’s explanation about the owners being on board with the Luka trade, the TNT analyst also gave another advice for Harrison. “Man, don’t do no more press conferences.” This message is not the 76ers legend’s sentiment, but the entire media is saying the same. Why did this sentiment arise? Let’s look at the GM’s recent press conference answers.
Feb 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison walks off the court before the game between the Dallas and the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t quite know it what level.” This was from the mandatory press conference, where Nico Harrison did double down on the decision-making. But at the same time, he did not really think about the extent of love that Doncic has from the fanbase. It was not just questioning the 26-year-old’s love, but the GM name-dropped Dirk Nowitzki in his earlier conference, not in a positive light.
“Some of those decisions are going to be unpopular, maybe to Dirk and maybe to the fans, but my obligation is to the Dallas Mavericks.” After these comments, reports emerged about the franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki, “completely turned off by this franchise.” That’s why the entire trade and aftermath have people calling for Nico Harrison to take more accountability.
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