Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison doubled down on his controversial decision to trade Luka Doncic during a closed-door meeting with select media members Tuesday. The hastily arranged roundtable, announced with less than 24 hours' notice, gave Harrison and Mavericks CEO Rick Welts a controlled environment to address growing criticism of the franchise-altering move that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fifteen hand-picked reporters attended the session in the American Airlines Center's media boardroom, where Harrison reiterated his belief that building a defensive-minded roster would ultimately justify trading the team's franchise player. The organization prohibited recording devices and promised to provide an official transcript afterward.
Nico Harrison stands firm on Luka Doncic trade philosophy
"There's no regrets on the trade," Nico Harrison told reporters. "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today but also in the future, and some of the decisions I'm going to make are going to be unpopular, and that's my job. I have to stand by it." (H/t: WFAA)
The GM faced tough questions about fan backlash and his job security, acknowledging the passionate response from Mavericks supporters while defending his long-term vision. He pointed to injuries as a primary reason the revamped roster hasn't yet quieted critics, noting stretches where the team fielded only eight players, with "only 7.5 of them could actually play."
Defense-first approach shapes roster decisions
Harrison repeatedly emphasized his "defense wins championships" philosophy when pressed about trading Luka Doncic, who led Dallas to the NBA Finals before the shocking deal. He expressed confidence in the current core of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II, calling them a championship-caliber group.
"Although [the fans] could have been upset with trading Luka, they wouldn't have been upset with the results," Harrison claimed. When ESPN's Tim McMahon challenged the logic behind trading Luka Doncic while lacking first-round draft picks through 2030, Harrison again pointed to his defensive blueprint and belief in the current roster's title potential.
Addressing communication and fan relations
The GM admitted the organization could have handled media relations better following the trade, which occurred 2.5 months before the roundtable. He said he hoped winning would ease fan anger, but injuries derailed those plans. WFAA's Michelle Montaine asked if Harrison underestimated Doncic's connection to fans, to which he responded that while they understood the star's impact, they expected the new roster would soften the backlash.
Nico Harrison also explained the secrecy surrounding the trade, stating that publicly shopping Luka Doncic would have jeopardized their ability to acquire targeted players like Anthony Davis. "The trade might not come to fruition," he noted, defending the behind-the-scenes approach.
Despite the rocky transition, Harrison remains optimistic about Dallas' future. He outlined plans to address roster needs, particularly in replacing Irving's production during his ACL recovery, while maintaining that current players will help fill the gap until the star guard returns.
Also read: Luka Doncic compared to role player in leaked Dallas Mavericks front office remarks involving CEW Rick Welts
"Once we win, the fans will come back," Nico Harrison said, stressing that the organization will ultimately be judged by wins and losses. With the controversial trade now cemented, the Mavericks' leadership appears committed to proving their defensive-focused rebuild can deliver the championship they promised.
Fifteen hand-picked reporters attended the session in the American Airlines Center's media boardroom, where Harrison reiterated his belief that building a defensive-minded roster would ultimately justify trading the team's franchise player. The organization prohibited recording devices and promised to provide an official transcript afterward.
Nico Harrison stands firm on Luka Doncic trade philosophy
"There's no regrets on the trade," Nico Harrison told reporters. "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today but also in the future, and some of the decisions I'm going to make are going to be unpopular, and that's my job. I have to stand by it." (H/t: WFAA)
The GM faced tough questions about fan backlash and his job security, acknowledging the passionate response from Mavericks supporters while defending his long-term vision. He pointed to injuries as a primary reason the revamped roster hasn't yet quieted critics, noting stretches where the team fielded only eight players, with "only 7.5 of them could actually play."
Defense-first approach shapes roster decisions
Harrison repeatedly emphasized his "defense wins championships" philosophy when pressed about trading Luka Doncic, who led Dallas to the NBA Finals before the shocking deal. He expressed confidence in the current core of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II, calling them a championship-caliber group.
"Although [the fans] could have been upset with trading Luka, they wouldn't have been upset with the results," Harrison claimed. When ESPN's Tim McMahon challenged the logic behind trading Luka Doncic while lacking first-round draft picks through 2030, Harrison again pointed to his defensive blueprint and belief in the current roster's title potential.
Addressing communication and fan relations
The GM admitted the organization could have handled media relations better following the trade, which occurred 2.5 months before the roundtable. He said he hoped winning would ease fan anger, but injuries derailed those plans. WFAA's Michelle Montaine asked if Harrison underestimated Doncic's connection to fans, to which he responded that while they understood the star's impact, they expected the new roster would soften the backlash.
Nico Harrison also explained the secrecy surrounding the trade, stating that publicly shopping Luka Doncic would have jeopardized their ability to acquire targeted players like Anthony Davis. "The trade might not come to fruition," he noted, defending the behind-the-scenes approach.
Despite the rocky transition, Harrison remains optimistic about Dallas' future. He outlined plans to address roster needs, particularly in replacing Irving's production during his ACL recovery, while maintaining that current players will help fill the gap until the star guard returns.
Also read: Luka Doncic compared to role player in leaked Dallas Mavericks front office remarks involving CEW Rick Welts
"Once we win, the fans will come back," Nico Harrison said, stressing that the organization will ultimately be judged by wins and losses. With the controversial trade now cemented, the Mavericks' leadership appears committed to proving their defensive-focused rebuild can deliver the championship they promised.
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