The General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, has acknowledged a crucial oversight regarding the immense affection Mavericks’ fans have for Luka Doncic, especially after trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.

Despite facing a barrage of criticism from fans since the trade, which took place two and a half months ago, Harrison continues to defend his decision, asserting it was necessary to craft a championship-caliber team in Dallas.

“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison expressed in a Monday press conference, indicating he had underestimated the extent of Doncic’s impact on the community.
[Translation: “I did know that Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison expressed in a Monday press conference, indicating he had underestimated the extent of Doncic’s impact on the community.]

While Harrison anticipated backlash, he hoped it would fade swiftly as Davis integrated into the team alongside Irving, Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Lively II. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued their gameplay together.

Harrison states, “We believe it’s a championship-caliber team, and we would have been winning at a high level, which would have quelled some of the discontent. Unfortunately, that has not transpired.”

The Mavericks briefly struggled to field enough players during Davis’ injury absence, yet upon his return, they managed to secure a place in the Western Conference play-in tournament, finishing at No. 10.

In this context, Harrison remains optimistic about the potential of the team and the upcoming draft where they expect to select 11th, expressing a strong belief in their chances of returning to championship contention once they can maintain a healthy roster.