Here’s Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Replace Nico Harrison

The Dallas Mavericks have seen enough.

The Mavericks finally fired General Manager Nico Harrison nine months after he orchestrated a trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.

Now, the Mavericks, who started the 2025-26 season with a 3-8 record, appear to be stuck in an uncertain future. However, nothing is set in stone, and the Mavericks’ search for a new general manager is a high-profile topic with eyes watching every move.

Here’s who should — and shouldn’t — replace Harrison, 52, as a General Manager.

Co-Interim General Managers May Be Promoted

Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations, Michael Finley, and Assistant General Manager, Matt Ricardi, will serve as the Dallas Mavericks’ Co-Interim General Managers.

But there’s still a void left by the Nico Harrison firing, and either Finley or Ricardi can be a solid long-term option. If Finley receives a promotion, his primary focus should be to distance himself from the Doncic trade.

If Riccardi earns a promotion, his main focus should be to state a solid case to the Mavericks’ ownership that he was against the Doncic trade. However, the Co-Interim General Manager may struggle to do so, as Harrison oversaw his hiring and eventual promotion.

NBA Candidates That May Get the Nod

Of course, Harrison’s successor may not be an internal hire among the Dallas Mavericks’ existing employees. Jason Kidd is a former Mavericks player who was teammates with Finley. Kidd, 52, has been serving as the Mavericks’ head coach since 2021.

The 52-year-old compiled a 182-157 record with the team, thanks to an emphasis on communication and playmaking from the point guard position. Kidd’s experience isn’t a huge amount but includes involvement in the team’s player evaluation conversations, which is better than nothing but not enough.

Dirk Nowitzki played his entire 21-season NBA career in Dallas. Nowitzki, 47, is arguably the most beloved Maverick of all time, with 14 NBA All-Stars and one NBA MVP before being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. The 47-year-old has ties with the team but would be a rather unconventional hire due to a lack of front office and talent evaluation experience.

Dennis Lindsey is an NBA executive who held roles with the Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. Lindsey, 56, currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons.

Lindsey’s career dates back to 1996, when the Rockets hired him as a video coordinator and scout. The Brazoria County, Texas native served as a senior advisor for the Mavericks in 2023 and would be a great fit, thanks to an ability to build strong teams through talent evaluations and strategic trades.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I prefer Lindsey to replace Harrison as the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks. However, I don’t make any decisions, and I don’t mind any of these candidates should they replace Harrison. We’ll see what happens.