Summer League Game 1: 7pm CST on ESPN

[mvossman]

Look, there are some very compelling points to point to in order to support displeasure with Harrison's job here, and I'm neither trying to argue against those points or change anyone's mind. Mine is more of plea for us to enjoy the moment for a change, and even then maybe it's more just a statement of how I'm approaching the season, not a call to arms for anyone else. 

Having said that, I'd submit that the Nash fiasco might've been worse that the Luka trade. The Brunson thing, too, for that matter. You might not like what Harrison got for Luka, and you might not think he got enough, but he did get something. And, before the trade deadline that everyone loves and have now decided to attribute to Lindsey, it's now widely known that the main goal was to send two 1st round picks for Kyle Kuzma, who by all accounts shut it down by saying he didn't want to play here. I have no doubt Lindsey was involved in the deals that did happen, but he was also undoubtedly involved in that offer, as well as the prioritization of it. So, honest question: Had that deal gone through, would that have been Harrison's fault, or Lindsey's? The guy who's in charge is in charge, end of the day.

I forgot about Nash (I was a causal fan back then).  So one catastrophic move in 20 years for Nelson and 2 in 4 years for Nico.

I thought it was one first for Kuzma (but that would have been terrible regardless).  My narrative says that Kuzma was all Nico and the good moves were all Lindsey

Regardless my argument is not that Linsey was perfect, just that Nico without Linsey influence has been very bad.

[F Gump]

Lets keep the record straight. Losing Nash was NOT a choice made by Donnie. It was 100% by Cuban. Donnie knew Nash's value and would have signed him.

At the time, Nellie was the coach and Cuban was GM, with input coming from Donnie. Both Nellie and Donnie wanted and fully expected Nash to be resigned, but Cuban fancied himself as an expert salesman who could make any deal that needed to be made. So Cuban ALONE handled it -- and when he saw the price, he would not pay the money.

Cuban was thinking he could hardball Nash into a smaller salary (doing so over the major objections of both Nelson's) since PHX was a bad team at the time. Cuban also did not value Nash since he was not a good defender, undervaluing his worth as a creator of offense, and figuring in the worst case it would not be a great loss.

[KillerLeft]

Lets keep the record straight. Losing Nash was NOT a choice made by Donnie. It was 100% by Cuban. Donnie knew Nash's value and would have signed him.

At the time, Nellie was the coach and Cuban was GM, with input coming from Donnie. Both Nellie and Donnie wanted and fully expected Nash to be resigned, but Cuban fancied himself as an expert salesman who could make any deal that needed to be made. So Cuban ALONE handled it -- and when he saw the price, he would not pay the money.

Cuban was thinking he could hardball Nash into a smaller salary (doing so over the major objections of both Nelson's) since PHX was a bad team at the time. Cuban also did not value Nash since he was not a good defender, undervaluing his worth as a creator of offense, and figuring in the worst case it would not be a great loss.

Agreed. I don't know what record you're straightening. I have no pushback to any of that, and have routinely referred to the Cuban/Nelson era. Nelson had the title, but we all know it was really Cuban playing with the toy. I agree that the Nash thing is on Cuban (kind of like the Brunson thing, imo).

[F Gump]

I agree that the Nash thing is on Cuban (kind of like the Brunson thing, imo).....9 XVIu 0

... as well as the Giannis decision, and the Chandler decision.... all 100% Cuban overriding his basketball experts. 

If I'm not mistaken, Cuban always retained the title of GM after Nellie quit, because he fancied himself as such, and Donnie was never the GM. His passion was good, but the way he let his ego serve to fritter away so many of Dirks peak years is a tragedy.

[mvossman]

... as well as the Giannis decision, and the Chandler decision.... all 100% Cuban overriding his basketball experts. 

If I'm not mistaken, Cuban always retained the title of GM after Nellie quit, because he fancied himself as such, and Donnie was never the GM. His passion was good, but the way he let his ego serve to fritter away so many of Dirks peak years is a tragedy.

I think Cuban probably was the biggest driver of all transactions up until he lost power in June 2024 (the same time that Lindsey left).  The Timmy for Grimes trade was reportedly done deal by then so the moves that we can cleanly attribute to Nico are:

Let DJJ walk (did not like this move)
dump Josh Green in trade to make room for below
S&T Klay for maximum they could spend on him (seemingly his only effective negotiating tool)
Sign Naji for the max they could offer him and do the above deal
Hardy gets extended (this is not looking good)
Luka trade (WTF?)
Grimes trade (WTF?)
Drafted Flagg (duh)
Sign Kyrie to reasonable contract
Sign Dlo to max he could offer (good contract)

I am willing to focus on the above as his body of work.  Most of these moves made the team older and most of them were about getting/retaining a player that Nico had prior relationship with.  If seems that his free agency moves are ok but its his trades that are a complete disaster.  I think he is going to have to make at least one more trade to put this team into contention, and I fear how that is going to play out.

[Dahlsim]

....

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. 

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-

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.

[david75090]

Fans are finally starting to see Nico's Vision. It's off, over there, on the horizon...somewhere. If you squint, you can almost, maybe, see it.