Mavericks Fire GM Nico Harrison Amidst Front Office Turmoil
DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks have fired General Manager Nico Harrison, ending a tumultuous tenure marked by a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving and, ultimately, a swift fall from grace. The move, confirmed Monday, signals a significant power shift within the association and raises questions about the future direction of the franchise just months after reaching the NBA Finals.
Harrison’s dismissal comes less than a year after he orchestrated a trade that sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 first-round pick, and multiple second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving. While the move initially sparked optimism and propelled the Mavericks to a championship appearance in 2024,internal friction and concerns about long-term team building reportedly fueled the decision.
The firing underscores a growing tension between Harrison, head coach Jason Kidd, and Mavericks governor Mark Cuban, with new owner Ted Dumont now playing a pivotal role. Sources indicate Dumont increasingly relied on Harrison’s counsel in the months leading up to the change.
In the immediate aftermath, former Harrison lieutenants Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi have been promoted as interim co-general managers. Finley, 52, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the majority of his career with the Mavericks, gained notoriety for removing a beer from Luka Dončić’s hands during the team’s 2024 Finals celebration. League sources suggest he was initially hesitant to accept the promotion.
Riccardi, 39, joined the Mavericks in 2022 after previously holding a mid-level front-office position with the brooklyn Nets.He was elevated to assistant general manager by harrison in 2023. His potential promotion to the full-time GM role would be viewed as a strong indication of Kidd’s influence with Dumont and the organization.
Another candidate under consideration is Dennis lindsey, currently the second-in-command to Trajan Langdon with the Detroit Pistons. Lindsey served as an advisor to Harrison in Dallas during the 2023-24 season and is reportedly Cuban’s preferred choice. Hiring Lindsey would signal a reassertion of cuban’s authority within the Mavericks’ leadership structure and his close relationship with Dumont.
The decision to remove harrison appears to stem from a lack of confidence in his long-term vision for the team. Just nine months prior to his firing, Harrison publicly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future, stating on February 2, 2024, in Cleveland, “The future to me is three, four years from now.Ten years from now, I don’t know. They’ll probably bury me and J(ason Kidd) by then. Or we bury ourselves.” For Harrison, that future arrived far sooner than anticipated.
