Inside the Mavericks’ decision to fire GM Nico Harrison

By the time the Mavericks made it official Tuesday, everyone around the league saw it coming.

Team governor Patrick Dumont had lost faith in GM Nico Harrison — and after another late-game collapse Monday night, the situation had become impossible to ignore.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Dumont’s decision to side with the Mavs’ medical staff last weekend over Harrison’s push to play Anthony Davis despite a calf injury made it clear who was in control.

“It was just a matter of time,” one league source told MacMahon. Hours later, Dallas blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, sealing Harrison’s fate.

Dumont decided there was “no rational reason to wait,” pulling the trigger overnight.

In a letter to fans, he said, “I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had. Please know that I’m fully committed to the success of the Mavericks. Our goal is to return winning basketball to Dallas and win championships.”

The issues go deeper than the front office. Dallas is struggling offensively, ranking near the bottom of the league in almost every major category.

“There’s a Luka-sized hole on that roster,” one Western Conference executive told ESPN.

The Mavericks are averaging just 104.2 points per 100 possessions and rank last in both three-pointers made (9.6 per game) and percentage (29.5%). Jason Kidd has shuffled through multiple point guards — including rookie Cooper Flagg, D’Angelo Russell, and Brandon Williams — without finding an answer.

“They don’t have shooting, they don’t have creation, and they don’t have trust,” an Eastern Conference scout added. “That’s not how you build a winning team.”

The Mavericks (3-8) have three straight home games, beginning Wednesday against the Suns.