Signs point to mounting pressure on Nico Harrison amid Mavericks struggles

Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont stood behind GM Nico Harrison through the summer. He backed him through camp. He backed him into this season.

One reason, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, is that Dumont was ultimately the one who approved last season’s shocking Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers, even if Harrison drove the internal push.

But after a 3-7 start, Dallas has slipped back into the same negativity that defined the final months of last year.

Stein wrote that morale inside the organization has “cratered.” The Mavericks are dealing with injuries, limited shot creation, defensive concerns at the point of attack and a 2-5 home record.

The “Fire Nico” chants have returned. And the mood has once again worn on ownership.

Per Stein, Dumont does not appear eager to make a front office change. But the idea is no longer theoretical. It has become part of the conversation.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon put it more bluntly on The Hoop Collective podcast.

“At this point, I believe it is a matter of when, not if, Nico Harrison will be fired,” MacMahon said. “And there’s a very, very strong likelihood that will be mid-season.”

MacMahon pointed to last week’s internal disagreement about Anthony Davis returning from a left calf strain. Davis wanted to play in Washington on Saturday. He did not. According to MacMahon, Dumont’s voice was part of that medical return conversation. That was not the case a year ago.

The absence of Kyrie Irving remains a major part of the early struggle as he recovers from ACL surgery. But Dallas also knew Irving would miss time.

And free agent addition D’Angelo Russell did not open the season as the starting point guard. Instead, Cooper Flagg, the league’s youngest player, has been asked to handle primary creation.

Stein noted that if Dumont eventually moves on from Harrison during the season, it would not only remove the architect of the Doncic deal from future decision-making.

It would also be aimed at resetting the atmosphere inside the building and re-engaging a fan base that had been alienated by that trade. And clearly, has not forgotten it.