Looking back at Harrison s Mavericks career: from one of the best executives to his resignation after trading Doncic

Translator's Note: The original article was published in The Athletic. The data in the article are as of the time of publication of the original article (November 12, local time). The dates and times involved are all local time.

On Tuesday, after more than four years in office, Nico Harrison, the Mavericks general manager and president of basketball operations, was fired by the team.

Harrison is a former Nike executive with deep connections to some of the top players in the NBA, and the Mavericks hired him precisely to leverage these connections to build a championship-contending team around Luka Doncic. After acquiring Kyrie Irving in a risky trade and making some shrewd moves at the 2024 trade deadline, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals in June of that year for the first time since 2011, and Harrison was regarded as one of the best executives in the NBA.

But within a year and a half, Harrison went from being highly respected to being resigned. Of course, his true downfall began in February, when Doncic was traded to the Lakers in a stunning late-night trade that included Anthony Davis and a first-round pick for the Mavericks.

Mavericks fans began attacking Harrison almost immediately, using "Fire Nico" as their rallying cry. The rest of the league couldn't figure out how such a deal could happen. Harrison tried to convince people to accept the trade, but people only scoffed at the idea that this deal would make the Mavericks more capable of competing for a championship.

Even winning the lottery that brought Cooper Flagg to the Mavericks couldn't save Harrison's job. As Harrison's tenure with the Mavericks comes to an end, let's take a look back at the key trades from his time with the Mavericks.

2021-22 season

June 28, 2021: The Mavericks hired Harrison.

August 10, 2021: Harrison and Doncic signed a five-year contract extension worth $207 million.

February 10, 2022: Harrison traded Kristaps Porzingis and a 2022 second-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

2021-22 season: The Mavericks ended the season with a record of 52 wins and 30 losses, and lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals after five games.

Season rating: B+, because this was an extraordinary season, with a bold trade away from Porzingis and reaching the conference finals.

2022-23 season

February 6, 2023: Harrison traded Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris.

April 14, 2023: The Mavericks were fined $750,000 for botching the draft to secure a higher draft pick.

2022-23 season: The Mavericks ended the season with a record of 38 wins and 44 losses, missing the playoffs.

Season grade: C+, because he had the foresight to save draft picks by playing bad. Although this kind of operation is disgraceful in the league, they may not necessarily be able to enter the play-offs in the first place. The trade to acquire Irving was risky at the time, but ultimately successful.

2023-24 season

July 6, 2023: Harrison completed a trade on draft night, sending Carson Wallace and Bertans to the Thunder in exchange for Derrick Lively II.

December 27, 2023: The Mavericks completed the change in ownership of the majority shareholder, transferring it from Mark Cuban to the Adelson and Dumont families.

February 8, 2024: Harrison traded Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Daniel Gafford.

February 8, 2024: Harrison traded Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round pick to the Hornets in exchange for P.J. Washington.

2023-24 season: After starting with 29 wins and 23 losses, the Mavericks finally ended the season with a record of 50 wins and 32 losses, and entered the NBA Finals, losing to the Celtics in five games.

Season grade: A+ because of those incredible trade deadline moves that turned the season around and made the Mavericks one of the best defensive teams in the league.

2024-25 season

July 2024: Harrison signed Najib Marshall (three years, $27 million); added Tim Hardaway Jr. and three A second-round pick was traded to the Pistons in exchange for Quentin Grimes; Josh Green and a 2031 second-round pick were traded away to complete a sign-and-trade deal for Klay Thompson (three years, $50 million).

February 2, 2025: Harrison traded Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Morris and a 2025 second-round pick to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

February 4, 2025: Harrison traded Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick to the 76ers in exchange for Caleb Martin and a 2030 second-round pick.

March 3, 2025: Irving suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

2024-25 season: The Mavericks ended the season with a record of 39 wins and 43 losses, losing to the Grizzlies in the play-offs.

May 12, 2025: The Mavericks won the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. Harrison told everyone: "Now you see my vision."

June 25, 2025: The Mavericks selected Flagg from Duke University with the No. 1 pick.

Season Rating: F. This is arguably the worst trade in NBA history. It's too far-fetched to call this deal a good idea. It just doesn't make sense to trade a player with health concerns for an older star with the same health concerns and only get a draft pick in the process.

2025-26 Season

November 11, 2025: Harrison was fired after a 3-8 start to the season.

Season rating: No rating yet... The reason is obvious, but I don't expect the future to be optimistic!

Author: Zach Harper

Translator: GWayNe