(07-12-2025, 11:22 AM)mvossman Wrote: ....
Personally I think Nico got lucky in both cases. I don't think this team was in a position to go deep in the playoffs even if healthy. Not enough creation and too drastic a change to what they do.
Those injuries gave him an excuse/out, the same one you are giving him in your first paragraph. I wonder if they watch a healthy version of his win now team get bounced in the first round if he is still here?
Acknowledging the role that luck/fortune plays does not give Nico an excuse. My point is simply recognizing the reality that luck is always part of the mix in winning or losing. We just saw an injury for example that easily could been the difference between OKC winning the ring or losing while Indiana wins it 1st.
Yes, we can only speculate if Nico's win now roster would have went deep without the bad luck of injury. OKC was good but was still young enough to be beatable, getting pushed to brink by an underdog.
Even winning wouldn't have really excused the way Luka was traded without testing his max value. The Mavs could have potentially won while still stocking better for the future the way OKC has now done.
Quote:Most of these moves made the team older
The Mav's GM made it clear he really didn't make the trade with much concern for the franchise future window past the next few years of Anthony Davis value.
His attitude was clearly stated:
https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3537...a-complete-
Quote:When Nico Harrison thinks about the "future" he thinks 3-4 years and that's it. His words, not mine. He's not thinking 10 years down the road or how it sets them up for that far in the future.
Capturing the Flagg with lottery luck has covered up for Nico, dealing the Mavs a win now shot with arguably an even better future window than before.