Tim MacMahon’s Dallas Mavericks Comments Come at an Interesting Time

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon recently made some comments regarding the Dallas Mavericks. Although MacMahon’s comments might be taken with a grain of salt, they come at an interesting time. Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison’s recent comments regarding Luka Doncic are interesting, to say the least. Read on for further details, so you can make an informed decision.

Tim MacMahon Makes Dallas Mavericks Comments

On Monday morning, ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Mavs GM Nico Harrison says it’s “kind of a joke” to bring up the firing of Casey Smith. What about Dirk Nowitzki’s disengagement from the Mavs, friction with Luka Doncic’s camp, and discord inside Dallas’s staff during this disastrous, injury-ravaged season?” MacMahon’s post on X attracted attention, with one user writing, “All questions I’d like an answer for.”

MacMahon’s post featured a self-written article with the headline, “Firings, ‘cheerleader energy’ and lost trust: What really led to the Luka Doncic trade.” It’s unclear if MacMahon’s article was dramatized or not. Still, one thing is clear: the Dallas Mavericks’ head athletic trainer, Casey Smith, shouldn’t have been fired — especially given that Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki trusted Smith implicitly and considered him one of his best friends.

The Luka Doncic area ended in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks organization has already moved on from Doncic, so the Mavericks fans should do the same. The 2025 NBA offseason will be interesting, as the Mavericks might rebuild — or try to rebuild — this summer. The Mavericks’ rebuild depends on the team’s ability to put a competitive team on the court, as there’s virtually no other choice with the outgoing draft capital.

The Dallas Mavericks’ rebuild won’t be complete in three or four years, in Harrison’s words, if Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont decides to fire Harrison, who has three years left on his contract, and trades Anthony Davis, PJ Washington Jr., and Dereck Lively II. However, Dumont’s firing of Harrison is unlikely, as Dumont publicly showed his support for Harrison in the past.

Nico Harrison Comments on Former Mavericks Star

On Monday, DLLS Sports’ Tim Cato posted on X, “Nico [Harrison]: “I did know Luka [Doncic] was important to the fan base. I didn’t know quite to this level.” Cato’s post attracted attention, with one user writing, “holy s— is this a real quote?” and another user writing, “It’s not just about the fans. You [Nico Harrison] should’ve known how important Luka was to your organization, dude.”

It’s unclear if Harrison was instructed to make the ignorant comment. Harrison’s comments were interpreted as if the NBA executive hadn’t learned his lesson from the rather unexpected trade on February 2 and failed to understand the frustration of the Mavericks fanbase. Harrison had a right to trade Doncic, whether solely because of the Dallas Mavericks’ claims of Doncic’s weight and defensive struggles or for other reasons. 

Final Thoughts

Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks had every right to trade Luka Doncic, whether the Mavericks fanbase agrees. Mavericks fans might never receive an honest answer about the Doncic trade, so they shouldn’t hold their breath. However, Harrison’s reported handling of the Mavericks’ athletic training staff, including head athletic trainer Casey Smith, might’ve led to a divide with Doncic.

Last week, Harrison said of Smith’s firing, “You bringing up Casey [Smith] is like almost, it’s kind of a joke … Like last year, Casey wasn’t around, and we made it to the [NBA] Finals. No one brought up Casey last year. So, to bring him up this year doesn’t really make sense. He’s been away for two years. So it’s — I’m not even going to comment on that.”

Doncic has been excelling with the Los Angeles Lakers, so there’s no concern about Doncic’s health. The Lakers are the No. 3 seed of the NBA’s Western Conference and are currently facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, with the Timberwolves up 1-0 at the time of writing. The Mavericks failed to make the NBA Playoffs after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies, 120-106, on April 18.

Harrison reportedly wants to keep the Dallas Mavericks’ core intact, but might not keep his promise. Every player on the Mavericks’ roster is under contract ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. If Kyrie Irving opts out of his player option and re-signs for multiple years, Dallas will breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Mavericks’ winning ways might not happen unless Davis and other role players’ health remains stable and Dallas maintains affordable talent.