Nico Harrison fronted up to the media to discuss the Luka Doncic trade, to more scathing reaction.
Speaking on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks, general manager Nico Harrison admitted the team might have been able to handle the fallout from the Luka Doncic trade better.
It was clear that the Mavericks were caught off guard by the overwhelmingly negative response to the trade.
CEO Rick Welts admitted he was stunned at the broken relationship with fans, admitting it was like nothing he had ever seen before.
And during his latest press conference, Nico Harrison admitted he did not realize how loved Luka Doncic was in Dallas.
Harrison said: “I did know Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t quite know to what level.”
Speaking at the end of a segment on ESPN’s NBA Today, Mavericks expert Tim MacMahon was asked about Nico Harrison’s comments.
MacMahon dismissed Harrison’s claims, admitting he was perplexed how Harrison could not make that connection.
He said: “Yeah, I don’t understand how you can underestimate the popularity of a player who is fresh off leading your franchise to the final.
“This was a five time first team All-NBA selection who has yet to hit his prime, and who took the torch from Dirk Nowitzki, the guy who set a record, literally a record, for loyalty to a franchise, 21 years in one uniform.”
He went on to reference Nowitzki losing some connection to the Mavericks in recent years, a player who is idolized in Dallas, who went to support Luka Doncic on his first game with the LA Lakers.
Doncic was left heartbroken by the trade, seeing himself as a Dallas Maverick for life, before being sent packing.
MacMahon had further criticism for Nico Harrison, who claimed he cannot be judged on this season due to the injuries the team sustained, which included Luka Doncic’s camp clashing with Mavericks’ brass.
He pointed out that Harrison was responsible for appointing leaders in the medical department who had been managing all of this.
MacMahon said: “These injuries that Nico Harrison keeps referring to as the reason you can’t judge trade yet. There were a lot of issues within that health and performance group. They’re all Nico Harrison’s hand pick hires.
“Frankly, this, this whole season has been a massive mess and miscalculation for the Dallas Mavericks, but Nico Harrison has convinced Patrick Dumont, Hey, can’t judge this until we have a fully healthy roster.
“We’ll see if that happens next season, it certainly didn’t happen this year.”
