In the aftermath of the Dallas Mavericks firing general manager Nico Harrison, Mavs legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki provided his opinion on the matter, noting the franchise should have made the move over the summer and adding that he didn’t want “negative energy” hanging over the team to start the Cooper Flagg era.
Nowitzki, who was making the remarks on the Amazon Prime pregame broadcast on Friday, also added that it was “time to move on now.”
Harrison notably orchestrated the infamous Luka Dončić trade, dealing the five-time All-NBA player and now 26-year-old to the Los Angeles Lakers last February.
This has been a disastrous year for the Mavericks, who have started the season 3-9. Dallas’ offense has struggled mightily, with the team last in points per game and last in offensive efficiency, per Basketball Reference.
Of course, the Mavs would be much better off with Dončić running the point. He’s thriving right now with the Lakers, averaging 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game for an 8-4 team sitting fifth in the Western Conference.
Dallas is missing nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who suffered a torn ACL last March and is currently rehabbing. Anthony Davis, the 10-time All-Star and main player sent to Dallas in the Dončić trade, has only played in five games as he works his way back from a left calf strain.
Of course, the Mavs have great hope with Cooper Flagg aboard after the team lucked out in the lottery and got the first pick overall. Flagg has averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game thus far.
However, the Mavs are still reeling from the Dončić trade, so it’s understandable why the team wanted to move on. It’s clear Nowitzki wanted the team to do so based on his remarks, and now Dallas forges ahead in a new era.
