A Texas-Sized Problem in Dallas

On May 24 2024, Luka had Jaden Mcdaniels on him- Derek Lively set a screen on 
McDaniels forcing the switch with Gobert, the matchup Doncic wanted. Between the 
legs dribble two dribbles to the right, step back shot over Gobert, Dagger three pointer 
“Good”, two games later the Mavs win allowing the first punch in the NBA Finals since 
2011. Vibes in Big D were at an all time high. Fast forward to game 1 of the NBA Finals, 
A hobbled Luka came out and scored 30 the first game but the Mavs went on to lose. 
Kyrie, as good as he was all year and playoffs, was practically non-existent in the finals. 
Mavs win game 4 at home which was their only win of the series as Boston closes it out 
on their home floor in game 5. After a game three loss in Dallas for Boston to go up 3-0, 
In post- game interview, Brian Windhorst went off of Luka’s defense as that narrative 
that dominated the offseason. Despite that in the playoffs, he averages 32/8/8 second
only to Michael Jordan. All the media talked about was his “Defense”. In the Next
season, on Christmas Day, Luka sustained a right calf injury in the second half of the
loss to the T’Wolves. That injury would keep the 5 time All-NBA star out for a month.
And that is when dissension arose between Nico Harrison and Luka Doncic Began.
During that time there were internal disagreements between Nico and Luka’s camp on
when the star should return. McMahon also reported that Nico had “(Secret Cameras)
set up at the practice facility and he became enraged the way Luka was practicing,
citing he saw Luka in practice “just shooting a bunch of threes” (MacMahon)”. Also he
disagreed with Luka's camp, per Tim MacMahon, on when he should return. Then on
July 2nd, Shams reported that in many opinions, that in the middle of the night, Luka
was traded to the LA Lakers for Anthony Davis and a meager pick for Max Christie and
Anthony Davis. This sent shockwaves through the league. Harrison defended the trade
by saying “Defense wins Championships”. The Mavericks fan base was shredded to
pieces, left wondering “How the hell did this happen?”. Fans the next day protested
outside the AAC, brought a coffin, screaming “we were screwed” and “Fire Nico” and
these chants went on all season and into the next. The first game post trade, “day to
day” Davis was already hurt against a loss to the Rockets. I personally took off work the
day after the trade, I was disgusted and confused. How could you trade our franchise
star for someone who is always injured and a role player? Nico defended the trade
religiously until his inevitable exit. Then on February 2nd, our best player Kyrie Irving
tore his ACL in a very unfortunate way. He had to carry the team post-luka, especially
since Anthony Davis was injured for months. The Mavs ended up finishing 10th in the
Western Conference and got smoked by the Memphis Grizzlies. Cameras were fixed on
Nico Harrison, knowing there were already questions that needed to be answered. So
the offseason comes, and there is an obvious hole at the PG position. Nico Harrison
signed D'angelo Russell in the offseason and didn’t do much else. Dallas finished 10th
worst in the NBA, giving them a 1.8% chance to land the top pick. On the night of the

lottery, you see Cooper Flagg sitting next to his college teammate and good friend Kon
Knueppel sitting in attendance. They started the lottery, and the Mavs kept moving up
after not being called for 12,11,10 or 9. Next thing you know the Mavs landed in the top
4. I was shocked, everyone was shocked. As it continues, the Mavs still don’t get their
number called. It came down between us and San Antonio. Despite the slim chances of
us landing the first pic, the next name called was the Spurs. The Dallas Mavericks for
the first time in history has won the Draft Lottery. Flagg looks to Knuppel in shock and
disbelief. The Mavs draft room erupts, high fives and hugs for everyone. Nico Harrison
reacted like he got a second life here, in fact his first comments post draft were “Fortune
favors the bold”. Fans immediately question whether Nico will trade that pick for “one of
his guys” but the dust settled and Mavs took 18 year old Cooper Flagg first in the draft.
So the talk around the league was “The Mavs are going to be a problem”. Dallas started
the season at home as a 2.5 point favorite against their rival San Antonio Spurs.
Anthony Davis takes off his warmups and I notice that he is bigger than he's ever been.
He goes on to get dominated by Victor Wembanyama and the Mavs lose by 20. The
next game Mavs were up 14 to the league's worst Washington Wizards and still couldn’t
find a way to win. Fans are getting restless already. The next game Anthony Davis gets
injured AGAIN. Mavs were a Nesmith wide open 3 at the buzzer away from going 0-3.
Next game Dallas gets smoked by the thunder. And then a loss to the Pistons in Mexico
City. The “Fire Nico” chants are starting to get louder and louder. The Mavs ended up
going 3-8 and Dumont was left with no choice and fired Nico Harrison. The mavs
majority owner Patrick Dumont sat with a fan the previous night and took accountability
for the luka trade citing “[He] made a mistake”. Ever since the worst trade in NBA
History about 10 months ago, the fans would not let up until Nico got fired. Their voices
were heard. Now the Mavs fans can begin to heal. Mark Cuban is back at the table.
With the next draft being the only pick we control in 2030. It is going to be interesting to
see where the Mavs go from here, but at least they are doing so with Nico Harrison at
the helm.