Is Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison in Trouble?

The Dallas Mavericks beat the Washington Wizards 111-105 at Capital One Arena on Saturday. Dallas snapped a four-game losing skid, while Washington lost eight straight games. Previously, Washington beat Dallas 117-107 at American Airlines Center on Oct. 24.

However, there was plenty of speculation surrounding Mavericks GM Nico Harrison’s job in the hours leading up to the Mavericks’ road game in Washington, D.C. Harrison, 52, traded franchise star, point guard Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2.

No job is safe, but Harrison may — or may not — be in trouble. Here’s what you need to know so you can make an informed decision.

Is Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison in Trouble?

Before Saturday’s game in the nation’s capital, Dallas found themselves in last place in the Western Conference with a 2-7 record. Dallas’ roster just hasn’t worked well together.

Consequently, an old video of Mavericks GM Nico Harrison resurfaced amid the Mavericks’ early-season struggles. Harrison appeared to defend his job after trading Doncic, now 26, to Los Angeles. The 52-year-old claimed that the team would compete for a championship in the 2025-26 season.

“I think I’ve done a really good job here,” said Harrison. “And I don’t think I can be judged by the injuries this year. You have to judge the totality from the beginning to end… You’ll see next year when our team comes back, we’re going to be competing for a championship.”

Regardless of your opinion on Harrison, the response was to be expected. The Montana State Bobcats Hall of Famer said typical statements, whether or not the talk of him being the fall guy — a person who is blamed for something done by others — is true.

In this case, there’s a chance the Mavericks’ new ownership, Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law Patrick Dumont, told Harrison to make such a trade. Multiple sources, including former NBA star Gilbert Arenas on his show Gil’s Arena, have touted the possibility.

Is Mavericks GM Harrison Going to Be Alright?

Dallas doesn’t look like a championship team at the moment. However, Dallas’ faults should be attributed to the team’s injuries, such as Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, on a higher level as opposed to Nico Harrison alone.

Dallas has no choice but to rely on Cooper Flagg until Irving, 33, returns. Hopefully in January. However, right now, Flagg, 18, has been struggling with efficiency, despite averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and three assists per game. The 18-year-old isn’t a point guard and should return to forward, but that’s a decision Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd must make in regard to his point guard experiment.

I believe Harrison will be alright, at least for now. Dallas must get healthy in order to right the ship, while Flagg continues to adjust to the NBA. If the wins keep piling up, the Washington-born, Oregon-bred basketball executive would likely retain his job.

Final Thoughts

Nico Harrison’s previous comments have been aging poorly, but there’s plenty of time to turn things around. Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards is a great start. Dallas’ injuries, along with Klay Thompson’s shooting woes, can spark a streak or deepen a crisis. Let’s see what happens in next week’s slate of games starting with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.