Luka Dončić’s blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in February stunned the NBA world. But in the months that followed, deeper stories began to emerge—stories that offered more insight into why Dallas let go of t
Dončić had just led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years, and many believed he was poised to carry the team into a new era. But GM Nico Harrison had a different vision. In a move that shocked fans and analysts alike, he sent the five-time All-Star to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
A recent column by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon shed light on the internal friction that may have led to the trade. Behind closed doors, Harrison reportedly struggled to build chemistry with Dončić and others in the organization. Conditioning was a major concern—sources said the front office was frustrated with Luka’s lack of commitment to staying in peak shape, especially with a supermax contract looming.
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 Mavs, friction with Luka Doncic’s camp, and discord inside Dallas’ staff during this disastrous, injury-ravaged season?https://t.co/bHJWVu9mtk
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 21, 2025
Luka Doncic enablers reportedly axed by Nico Harrison
But the shake-up went beyond Luka. After the Mavs were eliminated by the Celtics, several longtime performance staffers—Casey Smith, Jeremy Holsopple, and Dion Spangler—were dismissed. These were the same people who had helped Dončić adjust to life in Dallas as a teenager from Slovenia. According to MacMahon, Harrison viewed them not as mentors, but as “enablers” who contributed to Luka’s complacency.
“They had become confidantes for the superstar,” MacMahon wrote, “but Harrison saw them as holding him back.”
When Harrison finally broke his silence in a closed-door session with select Dallas media, he stood by the decision: “We feel that the guys that replaced them have done an amazing job,” he said. “You’re coming at me from a negative standpoint, and I look at it from a positive one. The guys we brought in are better.”
But the results told a different story. Anthony Davis, riddled once again by injuries, couldn’t stay on the floor. Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear. And despite a desperate late-season push, the Mavs failed to make the playoffs.
Ironically, 77 days after Dončić left Dallas—the same number he wore on his jersey—the Mavericks’ season ended without a postseason appearance.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
