Nico Harrison continues to be defending the Luka Doncic commerce after Mavs’ nightmare season

Nico Harrison has made it clear: he doesn’t remorse the Luka Doncic commerce even after a nightmare finish to the Dallas Mavericks’ season. The Mavs’ high decision-maker met the media on Tuesday for simply the second time for the reason that Doncic commerce. Harrison barred cameras and recording gadgets from the press session, however the quotes popping out are nonetheless surprising given how poorly the Doncic commerce has performed out for the Mavericks.

Harrison reiterated that he has no regrets about buying and selling Doncic. He caught to the script for why he made the transfer: he believes protection wins championships, and he didn’t suppose Doncic might be a dependable a part of Dallas’ future on the supermax extension he was due for in the summertime. Within the hours after the Doncic commerce occurred, Harrison leaked to the media that his philosophy is “protection wins championships.” Guess what line he repeated on Tuesday?

Somebody ought to most likely inform Harrison that the Mavs had a greater defensive score with Doncic this season than they did with the participant he was traded for, large man Anthony Davis. Davis received harm in his first recreation with the Mavs, which isn’t precisely stunning for a participant who has been damage inclined his whole profession, and was already coping with an belly pressure when he was traded to the Mavs. Issues solely received worse from there for Dallas, with a number of starters happening with accidents, together with Kyrie Irving’s devastating torn ACL that may linger properly into subsequent season. The Mavs don’t have any hope now or sooner or later due to Harrison’s Doncic commerce.

Buying and selling Doncic for the bundle Dallas received again was at all times an indefensible resolution. It’s clear Mavs’ management is totally delusional when it comes to how they considered Doncic and the way they approached the commerce. When pressed on the disastrous consequence of the commerce up to now, Dallas CEO Rick Welts in contrast it to a different unpopular commerce on the time that labored out properly: the Warriors dealing Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut in 2012.

There simply isn’t any comparability between the 2 trades. Ellis by no means made an All-Star crew in his profession. Doncic already had 5 First-Group All-NBA nods to his title by age-25, and he had simply led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. Ellis was traded partly to clear room for an ascendant younger guard named Stephen Curry. The Mavs have nobody can come near doing what Luka does.

Need a greater comparability for this commerce? Strive the Babe Ruth deal. That one didn’t work out so properly for the Purple Sox, even when head coach Jason Kidd thinks it’s cool to listen to the comparability.

One other concern tied to the commerce was Doncic’s looming supermax extension, a five-year, $346 million contact that Dallas didn’t wish to pay him this summer time. No participant has ever turned down a supermax contract, and Doncic basically confirmed he was going to signal it within the wake of the commerce (he’s now not eligible for the supermax since being traded to the Lakers). Harrison mentioned he was no assure that Doncic would signal the supermax, which appears like a flat out lie. He caught to his weapons even after ESPN’s Tim MacMahon pushed again on him.

There are a whole lot of conspiracy theories in regards to the Doncic commerce, nevertheless it appears like Harrison was totally satisfied his crew would by no means win a championship with Luka on the roster. Harrison was a detailed affiliate of Kobe Bryant throughout his heyday, and he didn’t see Bryant’s killer mentality in Doncic as he usually reported to coaching camp off form.

Harrison is out of his thoughts on this one, too, however the essential factor is that he actually believes it. Right here’s the road they are going to placed on Harrison’s skilled grave as soon as he’s fired.

Harrison’s timing with this media blitz was additionally weird, taking place a day after the Dallas Wings drafted Paige Bueckers No. 1 total and a day earlier than the Mavs play an elimination recreation within the NBA play-in match within the 9/10 matchup. Why couldn’t this wait till after the season is formally over?

NBA followers will probably be speaking in regards to the Doncic commerce for many years. Harrison would possibly nonetheless be defending it, nevertheless it was a foul commerce the second he made it, and it’s labored out even worse within the quick time period.

If the Mavs wish to win again the goodwill of their followers, they need to begin by firing Harrison. Buying and selling Anthony Davis could be an excellent subsequent step, particularly contemplating Kyrie Irving is out most or all of subsequent season. Harrison’s legacy is already safe: he’s the man who made the stupidest commerce in fashionable sports activities historical past. Luka continues to be writing his personal legacy, and now that will probably be with the Lakers. The faster this ends, the higher off everybody will probably be.