The Dallas Mavericks moved to release general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, recognizing, nearly nine months later, that the highly debated trade involving Luka Doncic did not benefit the organization as intended.

This decision followed a recent game where Mavericks’ governor Patrick Dumont was present during a 116-114 defeat to Milwaukee, in which fans once again voiced their disapproval with chants of “fire Nico.” This has been a recurring theme since the controversial trade that saw Anthony Davis join the Los Angeles Lakers, much to the anger of the Dallas fan community.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Dumont communicated with a young fan, Nicholas Dickason, during the match and admitted that the trade was regrettable. Dickason was later quoted saying, “[Dumont] said he was trying to do what’s best for the organization, and ‘Sometimes you have good intentions and you make mistakes.’ We all do it.”

Following Harrison’s dismissal, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will step in as co-interim general managers to take charge of basketball operations.

Attempts by Dumont to regain favor with supporters did not pan out after the Mavericks secured the top overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg, despite having only a 1.8% chance to win the lottery.

Fans have noticed a significant drop in attendance at American Airlines Center this season, a phenomenon not seen consistently since 2018 when the Mavericks traded up to draft Doncic with the third overall selection.

Doncic, a remarkable 25-year-old point guard at the height of his career, was traded away in favor of the often-injured Davis, who has already missed 30 out of 44 regular-season games since joining the team in February.

Harrison, in his fourth year, had previously facilitated three deals that played a crucial role in the Mavericks’ advancement to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and subsequently the NBA Finals two years later.

The fallout from the Doncic trade, combined with a poor start to the season—Dallas currently stands at 3-8—has led to a surprising decline, especially with Davis missing six out of the 11 matches due to a calf injury. Doncic, conversely, boasts impressive stats, averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game for the Lakers through his initial seven games this season.