The Dallas Mavericks are in turmoil once again. Team owner Patrick Dumont fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, a move widely seen as an attempt to stabilize a franchise still reeling from the decision to trade Luka Dončić — and the uncertain future of Anthony Davis now looms large.
Harrison’s dismissal comes amid a disastrous 3-8 start to the season, with Davis sidelined for the last six games due to a calf injury. The 32-year-old big man was the centerpiece of the return package the Mavericks received from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dončić, the former franchise cornerstone.
Rich Paul, Patrick Dumont Maintain Close Ties
According to Dallas-based NBA insider Marc Stein, Davis’ agent Rich Paul has developed a “strong relationship” with Dumont since the blockbuster trade. “They are in regular contact,” Stein added.
That connection could play a pivotal role in shaping Davis’ future in Dallas, especially after the sudden front-office shakeup.
Harrison’s bold vision of pairing Davis with Kyrie Irving has faltered early due to injuries, raising questions about whether Dumont’s next general manager will keep faith in the injury-prone superstar or pivot toward rebuilding around the team’s young talent.
A Gamble Gone Wrong
GettyFans chant “Fire Nico” at former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.
When Harrison traded for Davis last February, he described the move as a win-now gamble that could sustain Dallas’ competitiveness in the short and medium term.
“If you pair [Davis] with Kyrie and the rest of the guys, he fits with our time frame to win now and in the future,” Harrison said then. “The future to me is three, four years from now. Ten years from now, I don’t know — they’ll probably bury me and J[ason Kidd] by then. Or we bury ourselves.”
Harrison didn’t have to wait that long. As Dallas spiraled through a six-game losing streak, home fans began chanting “Fire Nico!” at the American Airlines Center, creating an untenable atmosphere that ultimately led to Dumont making the change.
Injury Woes Mount for Davis
Davis’ durability has been a recurring issue throughout his career, and his time in Dallas has been no different. Since joining the Mavericks, he has played just nine games last season due to an adductor strain, and then underwent retina surgery on his right eye during the offseason.
This season, Davis entered training camp 15 pounds heavier, weighing 268 pounds, according to The Athletic.
ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson speculated that the added weight might have contributed to his latest setback.
“How many times have we seen players come into camp overweight and then deal with calf or lower-leg injuries?” Jefferson said on the Road Trippin’ Podcast. “If you told me eight games in that Anthony Davis would have Achilles soreness, I’d believe it.”
The irony hasn’t been lost on Mavericks fans — the same conditioning concerns that once dogged Dončić now trail Davis.
Déjà Vu in Dallas
The Mavericks traded Dončić last season to escape what they viewed as a recurring cycle of injuries and inconsistency. Harrison’s front office believed Davis would bring elite rim protection, toughness, and durability. Instead, the team has found itself back in the same predicament — only with fewer assets and a thinner roster.
Dallas’ cap flexibility is limited, and the organization no longer controls its own first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, a consequence of the trades Harrison made to fortify the roster around Dončić.
What Comes Next for Dallas?
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Harrison completed 16 trades during his tenure, leaving just seven players from the 2024 Western Conference championship roster: Irving, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, Jaden Hardy, Dwight Powell, and Dante Exum.
With veteran stars Davis (32) and Irving (33) both dealing with durability concerns, the Mavericks’ next front office leader faces a defining decision: stay committed to a win-now approach, or pivot toward rebuilding around No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
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