Report: Nico Harrison Fired Casey Smith While Smith Was Visiting His Dying Mother

According to NBA insider Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison fired Casey Smith while Smith was visiting his dying mother. 

Smith was the Mavericks’ director of health and performance. He had a close relationship with Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic. 

“A few days after returning to Dallas’ Love Field from the Hall of Fame event, when the franchise that had endured a frustrating, losing season was on a high from honoring Nowitzki, Harrison informed Smith that they needed to meet,” MacMahon wrote. “Smith replied that it wasn’t possible to meet in person; he had gone to his hometown in Ohio to be at the side of his gravely ill mother in the final weeks of her life. Harrison set up a video conference meeting instead.

“Smith was then informed that his services in Dallas were no longer needed, ending a nearly two-decade tenure with the franchise. The reason for the dismissal centered on Smith being ‘too negative,’ according to sources briefed on the discussion who interpreted the vague reasoning to mean Smith wasn’t enough of a yes-man.”

Harrison held a closed-door media session with Dallas reporters last week.

When Harrison was asked by an NBA reporter why he fired Smith, the exec didn’t mince words.

“You bringing up Casey is like almost, it’s kind of a joke,” Harrison said. “Like last year, Casey wasn’t around and we made it to the Finals. No one brought up Casey last year. So to bring him up this year doesn’t really make sense. He’s been away for two years. So it’s, I’m not even going to comment on that.”

Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. Doncic’s camp and Harrison did not have a good relationship.

The Mavericks missed the playoffs this year, while Doncic and the Lakers are in the postseason.

Harrison is the most hated man in Dallas right now for trading Doncic, who did not want to get traded.