The Dallas Mavericks are off to a disastrous start to the season with a 2-7 record, coming off a 118-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday that dropped them to last place in the NBA Western Conference. The poor run has raised serious doubts about general manager Nico Harrison’s position and his handling of the franchise in recent years.
On his Howdy Partners show, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said it’s “absolutely a legitimate question” whether Harrison will be able to keep his job as the Mavericks try to navigate this difficult stretch. “When you talk to people about the Mavericks around the league,” MacMahon added, “it’s the first question that people are asking.”
Harrison received a multiyear contract extension in June 2024, just as the Mavericks were preparing for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. But everything has gone downhill since that series. The decline truly began after the front office made the shocking decision to part ways with Luka Doncic — a move that continues to haunt the franchise.
The reasoning behind the Doncic trade hasn’t paid off in any meaningful way. Harrison defended the deal by pointing to defensive improvement, which he said was the main motivation behind the move. To his credit, Dallas currently ranks sixth in defensive rating, but that has done little to offset their offensive struggles. The Mavericks simply can’t score consistently. The offense could improve as the season progresses, especially with rookie Cooper Flagg’s development and Kyrie Irving’s eventual return from a torn ACL.
Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks walks backcourt.
Harrison fighting to keep his job
Back in April, shortly after completing the blockbuster Doncic trade, Harrison was asked directly why he shouldn’t be fired for dealing away the 26-year-old superstar. At the time, he insisted that Dallas would be back in title contention in the 2025-26 NBA season.
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“I think I’ve done a really good job here,” Harrison said. “And I don’t think I can be judged by the injuries this year. You have to judge the totality from beginning to end… You’ll see next year when our team comes back, we’re going to be competing for a championship.”
Those comments are already aging poorly. While it’s still early in the season, the Mavericks look far from being a championship contender. Injuries to Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II certainly haven’t helped, forcing Dallas to lean heavily on rookie Cooper Flagg. Though Flagg has shown flashes of franchise-changing talent, he’s still adjusting to the NBA pace and physicality.
Adding to their woes, Klay Thompson’s early-season form has been underwhelming, raising further concerns within the organization. Dallas will have a chance to earn just its third win of the campaign on Saturday, when the Mavericks face the Washington Wizards — a matchup that could provide some much-needed relief or deepen their crisis even further.
