The mantra that had change into so painfully acquainted within the American Airways Heart since that stunning night time in early February broke out as soon as once more within the ultimate minutes of the Dallas Mavericks’ Oct. 24 residence loss to the woeful Washington Wizards.
“Fireplace Nico! Fireplace Nico! Fireplace Nico!”
Mavericks followers had been calling for normal supervisor Nico Harrison’s termination for the reason that second that he traded Luka Doncic — a then-25-year-old, homegrown five-time first-team All-NBA choice and recent off an NBA Finals look — to the Los Angeles Lakers within the early morning hours of Feb. 2.
At this explicit second, Doncic was within the midst of scoring 23 factors within the first quarter on his new residence court docket in downtown Los Angeles. He completed with 49 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a Lakers win that night time, a stark distinction to the Mavs’ depressing night time.
That foreshadowed the primary few weeks of the season that in the end sealed the destiny of Harrison, who was fired in a Tuesday morning assembly with crew governor Patrick Dumont, who got here to remorse signing off on Harrison’s plan to dump Doncic, in response to sources. The deal despatched Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round decide to Dallas, a return executives across the league thought of extraordinarily underwhelming for a perennial MVP candidate simply getting into his prime.
“Time will inform if I am proper,” Harrison stated the day after the commerce. 9 months later, time ran out on Harrison.
The Mavs have one of many NBA’s worst offenses and sit on the backside of the Western Convention, forward of solely the New Orleans Pelicans, with a 3-8 file as Doncic shines for the 8-3 Lakers, main the league with 37.1 factors per sport whereas additionally averaging 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Davis, in the meantime, has performed in simply 14 regular-season video games for the Mavs, lacking most of final season with an stomach harm.
Doncic’s absence continues to hold over the franchise, even after a historic stroke of lottery luck delivered the No. 1 total decide and prized prospect Cooper Flagg to Dallas. That was encapsulated by a surreal scene in the beginning of the second half of Monday night time’s residence loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the sixth consecutive sport Davis missed as a result of a left calf pressure.
Dumont, attending his first sport since a season-opening blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs, engaged in a cordial dialog with an 18-year-old man who was carrying Doncic’s gold No. 77 Lakers jersey.
That fan, whose household has season tickets a couple of rows behind Dumont’s courtside seats, informed reporters that he approached Dumont at his father’s urging to apologize for flipping him off and cursing at him late within the Oct. 22 season-opening loss. Dumont, the fan informed The Athletic, expressed regret for the Doncic commerce.
In the meantime, placards that includes a photograph of Davis sat in lots of the empty seats across the enviornment. “MAKE SOME NOISE!” the indicators learn.
The followers made loads of noise, firing up “Fireplace Nico!” chants repeatedly all through the fourth quarter.
Why did the Mavs fireplace Harrison now? Will they appear to commerce Davis? This is every part we all know in regards to the growing scenario in Dallas.
Why fireplace Harrison now?
The scenario in Dallas had reached a degree of being untenable. Dumont had misplaced belief in Harrison, as evidenced by the governor’s involvement within the choice to carry off on Davis’ return over the weekend, siding with the Mavs’ medical employees’s want to not threat aggravating the calf harm. The uncertainty hanging over Harrison’s head loomed like a black cloud over the whole group.
“It’s only a matter of time,” a league supply informed ESPN on Monday afternoon, hours earlier than the Mavs blew a 13-point lead within the fourth quarter of yet one more loss.
Dumont determined in a single day that there was no rational cause to attend. The franchise wanted to maneuver on now.
Dumont addressed the transfer in a letter to the crew’s followers Tuesday.
“I perceive the profound affect these tough final a number of months have had,” Dumont’s letter stated. “Please know that I am absolutely dedicated to the success of the Mavericks. … Our aim is to return successful basketball to Dallas and win championships.”
Patrick Dumont in letter to followers: “I perceive the profound affect these tough final a number of months have had. Please know that I am absolutely dedicated to the success of the Mavericks.” pic.twitter.com/MjqModl5QG
— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) November 11, 2025
What stands out most in regards to the Mavs’ dreadful begin?
Apart from the fixed negativity that has hung over the franchise? It is the abysmal offense, which has a large void in shot creation and playmaking.
“There’s a Luka-sized gap on that roster,” an government from a Western Convention crew stated.
Dallas climbed out of lifeless final within the league’s offensive effectivity rankings over the weekend. The Mavs at the moment are forward of the injury-ravaged Indiana Pacers, scoring solely 104.2 factors per 100 possessions.
Kidd began Flagg at level guard, a place the 18-year-old had by no means earlier than performed at any stage, within the first seven video games of the season earlier than pulling the plug on that experiment. Veteran journeyman D’Angelo Russell, signed this summer time as a stopgap fill-in for injured star Kyrie Irving, had an unsuccessful three-game stint because the starter earlier than Kidd went with Brandon Williams on Monday night time.
“There is no level guard. You do not have a flooring chief,” a scout from an Jap Convention crew stated. “That is the primary downside. Then you definitely’re making an attempt to make a man who is not a degree guard a degree guard.
The coach would not belief the man you signed this summer time. That is apparent. They do not belief him sufficient to make him the ground chief, and that is consistent with the consensus across the league. They do not have taking pictures and so they haven’t got creation. These are issues it is advisable to be an excellent offensive crew.”
Dallas ranks final within the league in 3-pointers made (9.6 per sport) and 3-point share (29.5%). The Mavs rank twenty seventh in assists (27.7 per sport). These shortcomings had been predictable, contemplating how a lot their roster development is tilted towards frontcourt gamers.
“Outstanding that Nico didn’t purchase an excellent guard this summer time so they may win some video games,” an exec from an Jap Convention crew stated. “That was such low-hanging fruit.”
What is the vibe contained in the locker room?
The ambiance on the American Airways Heart has been so depressing that the Mavs thought of residence court docket to be a drawback.
“These individuals don’t need us to win,” one participant bemoaned, in response to a crew supply.
The Mavs’ home-heavy schedule has solely made sustaining respectable morale tougher. Dallas is 2-5 on its residence flooring, and whereas there hasn’t been any bickering between gamers, sustaining respectable morale has been tough because the losses have mounted.
“For me, it is essentially the most I’ve misplaced since, you recognize, I feel, ever,” Flagg glumly stated after a Nov. 5 residence loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, which quickly dropped Dallas to final within the West.
Heart Daniel Gafford acknowledged after Monday night time’s loss that “at occasions” the followers’ unrelenting give attention to Harrison being fired was disheartening for the gamers.
“However everyone knows we acquired a job to do,” Gafford stated. “It will be a protracted season making an attempt to win again quite a lot of followers, on the finish of the day.”
What’s subsequent with Anthony Davis?
The most important query concerning Davis at this level will not be about when he’ll return from his calf pressure. It is about whether or not the group will think about exploring the commerce marketplace for the 32-year-old large man, which might by no means have been a distant risk with Harrison operating basketball operations.
It is a path that a number of executives and scouts from different franchises imagine could be logical for the Mavs as Dallas pivots to prioritize constructing round Flagg. The Mavs have built-in challenges in that mission as a result of giving up management of their first-round picks from 2027 by way of 2030 in trades made whereas efficiently constructing a contender round Doncic.
“You may have Flagg, however you are outdated and you do not personal your picks,” a West decision-maker stated. “[They have to] be comfy with taking two steps again if that is the required path. Be affected person. They should lose this yr, however I do not see Dumont being comfy with taking a step again. It is not pure as a brand new proprietor.”
It is unsure what the commerce marketplace for Davis could be as a result of his sturdiness points, though he’s nonetheless a dominant pressure on each ends of the ground when wholesome. A number of league sources had been adamant that figuring out that market over the upcoming months is due diligence that Dallas ought to do because it’s change into clear that Harrison’s hopes of a three- to four-year window of competition will not come to fruition.
“You do not go two timelines anymore,” a West government stated. “You say, ‘We will take what we are able to get [for Davis].’ At this level, I am undecided what they will get.”
What’s subsequent for the Mavs’ entrance workplace?
Assistant normal managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi have been promoted to run the franchise’s basketball operations division on an interim foundation.
Minority proprietor Mark Cuban, who wrongly anticipated he’d proceed to run the crew’s basketball operations division when he offered the bulk share of the franchise to the Adelson and Dumont households in December 2023, has mapped out a plan for the entrance workplace’s future. In keeping with sources, Cuban hopes to rent Dennis Lindsey, the previous Utah vice chairman and normal supervisor who’s presently the second highest-ranking member of the Detroit Pistons’ entrance workplace. Lindsey served as a senior advisor for the Mavs throughout the 2023-24 season, when he had enter on personnel strikes that helped construct the Finals roster round Doncic.
It’s not identified at this level how receptive Dumont will probably be to Cuban’s plan, however they’ve been in frequent dialogue in latest months, a major change after Cuban was pushed fully out of basketball operations final season and blindsided by the Doncic deal. Coach Jason Kidd obtained a multi-year contract extension throughout the preseason after Dallas declined to present him permission to interview with the New York Knicks over the summer time.