NBA GM’s are judged on every move they make. That has been the case from the earliest days of the league. And if you decide to trade one of the greatest players of a generation, you will probably get fired.
That is exactly what (finally) happened on Tuesday, with the Dallas Mavericks opting to fire Nico Harrison, who had been in his role since 2021. Harrison even signed an extension in the summer of 2024 after a Finals run.
Even though owner Patrick Dumont apparently told a fan that the trade was his own idea, the writing has been on the wall. Luka Dončić was projecting to have even better Mavs career than Dirk Nowitzki . And then he got moved for Anthony Davis. There was never any coming back from this.
And with Harrison out, Michael Finley, a long-time Maverick, and Matt Riccardi are taking over in the interim.
Michael Finley Finally Getting His Opportunity in Dallas
Michael Finley finished his impressive 15-year playing career with the Boston Celtics in 2010. It didn’t take too long for him to find his way back to Dallas. He has been around organization since 2012.
Finley, a Wisconsin Badgers Hall-of-Famer, played with the Mavericks from the trade deadline in 1997, through the end of the 2004-05 year. He appeared with fellow teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in the movie Like Mike. He was bell beloved in Dallas from day one.
Finley has been promoted five times in the past nine years, now. He went from being Assistant VP of Basketball Operations in 2017-18, to VP of Basketball Ops the following season. He had two titles as of the start of the 2023-24 campaign. VP of Player Personnel, as well as Assistant GM.
Sticking around as long as he has, he’s now primed to get a serious look. Finley will be sharing his duties with fellow assistant GM Matt Riccardi, who’s been around the game a long time as well.
Riccardi joined the franchise three years ago in a basketball ops role after four seasons with the Long Island Nets. Prior to that, he was with the Brooklyn Nets for seven campaigns.
The two of them will help try to turn the franchise around now, after Nico Harrison leaves it in a tougher spot than the one he came into.
Dallas Mavericks Hope for Better Days Ahead
Michael Finley has always been somebody that could be relied upon. He was a scorer during his early days as a player in the association, and a strong vet during later years in Dallas, San Antonio, and Boston.
A viral moment happened while the Mavs celebrated their Western Conference title in 2024. Luka Dončic was seen drinking a beer, but then Finley came and took it away and kept it moving. (See the video below)
The franchise drafted Cooper Flagg number one overall last summer after winning the lottery in a surprise. Kyrie Irving should be back in a few months. Though it is a bit of a mismatched roster, there is plenty of talent here. Dereck Lively and Anthony Davis will play more basketball this season.
They still have Klay Thompson, who is a few buckets away from breaking the slump. It will be on Finley and Riccardi to help steer the ship into a better spot. Whether this means extensive personnel changes, or affirming that their current core is going to stick, is to be determined.
One thing is absolutely certain, though. These guys will have the chance to make the Dallas Mavericks relevant again. For better reasons.
Best of luck to the both of them. If they do the job, the job may be theirs for the long haul.
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