Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison is still trying to defend his risky trade as the team tries to claw its way into the playoffs.
During a closed-door press conference on Tuesday that wasn’t recorded, Harrison argued that trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis was in the best interest of helping the team win a championship.
“Yeah, there’s no regrets on the trade,” Harrison said via a transcript from CBS Sports. “Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future. Some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular. And that’s my job and I have to stand by it.
“One last thing, I’ll also add that every trade I’ve done has been met with high scrutiny, and so eventually, I’ll earn the trust of this community back. Some of these trades are going to work out and they have at a high level.”
Harrison believes the move for Davis coincides with the team’s philosophy that “defense wins championships.”
Mavs News: Dallas Mavericks power past Kings
On Wednesday night, Davis did his part to back up Harrison’s words. He put up 27 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three blocks in the Mavs’ 120-106 win in the 9-10 Play-In Tournament game over the Sacramento Kings in front of 17,939 fans at the Golden 1 Center.
Dallas will travel to play the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night for the right to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs rushed Davis back this season from injury (left adductor strain) for a chance to make the playoffs sans Kyrie Irving, who is dealing with an ACL tear.
The trade and the decision not to tank made many fans demand Harrison’s firing. However, the trade for Davis wound up getting another GM canned.
Nico Harrison’s trade gets GM fired
Per ESPN‘s Shams Charania, the Kings fired general manager Monte McNair after the Kings lost to the Mavs in the Play-In Tournament.
“The Sacramento Kings and general manager Monte McNair are mutually parting ways, sources tell ESPN,” Charania posted. “McNair spent five seasons running the Kings, winning NBA executive of the year in 2023 when Sacramento went 48-34 and snapped a record 16-year drought to make the playoffs.”
The Sacramento Kings and general manager Monte McNair are mutually parting ways, sources tell ESPN. McNair spent five seasons running the Kings, winning NBA executive of the year in 2023 when Sacramento went 48-34 and snapped a record 16-year drought to make the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/off3QWsZnU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 17, 2025
McNair made a few risky trades of his own in the hopes of making the Kings a playoff contender, acquiring DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine in separate deals with the Chicago Bulls. He had been with the Kings since 2020.
Not long after Sacramento announced McNair’s firing, the Kings hired Scott Perry to replace him.
“The Sacramento Kings are finalizing a deal to hire longtime NBA executive Scott Perry as their new general manager, sources tell ESPN,” Charania posted on X. “Perry spent three months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for the Knicks. Perry started his exec career in 2000 with Detroit.”
The Sacramento Kings are finalizing a deal to hire longtime NBA executive Scott Perry as their new general manager, sources tell ESPN. Perry spent three months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for the Knicks. Perry started his exec career in 2000 with Detroit. pic.twitter.com/vlQUOeo55y
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 17, 2025
Harrison could soon join the list of former GMs looking for employment. While his trade worked out on Wednesday night, the Mavs aren’t likely to make a dent against OKC if they make the playoffs at all.
Even if Irving is healthy by January of 2026, there’s no assurance that an oft-injured 32-year-old Davis will be in shape to lead Dallas past OKC and other Western Conference contenders.
Given what happened earlier this year with the Denver Nuggets and GM Calvin Booth, no GM should feel safe.
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