With the Dallas Mavericks having struggled early in the season, the conversation has shifted to the job status of some within the organization, especially general manager Nico Harrison. As the job security Mavericks' general manager in Harrison has been in question, the talk has been amplified due to recent reporting.
There is no denying that Dallas has disappointed to start the season with a core group of Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, rookie Cooper Flagg, and others. Despite waiting for star Kyrie Irving to return, the consistent “negativity” that is around the franchise has been “wearing and troubling ownership,” according to Marc Stein.
“With the Mavericks already in a significant hole when it comes to simply reaching the playoffs, league sources tell The Stein Line that the rising and virtually ceaseless negativity that surrounds the franchise is indeed wearing on and troubling ownership,” Stein wrote.
One could imagine that feeling has carried over from last season, with Harrison under a microscope ever since the shocking trade of Luka Doncic. ESPN's Tim MacMahon would even say that it's a “matter of when” Harrison will be fired.
"At this point, I believe it is a matter of when, not if, Nico Harrison will be fired. And there is a very, very strong likelihood that will be mid-season."
Tim MacMahon on the Hoop Collective podcast with Brian Windhorst.pic.twitter.com/cFzczOyAoQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 10, 2025
Mavericks have a crucial decision to make regarding Nico Harrison
While the Mavericks are off to a relatively disastrous start, there are conversations around whether it would be the right decision to let go of Harrison in the middle of the season, rather than having it play out. However, ownership has to debate whether it's important to “win back alienated fans.”
“While Dumont seemingly prefers to give Harrison more time, contemplating whether an in-season change is the wisest course for the Mavericks to try to forge ahead post-Dončić has become unavoidable at the highest levels of the organization,” Stein wrote. “Daunting as that mission will undoubtedly be even after winning May's draft lottery and the right to draft Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.”
“If Dumont eventually concludes that a mid-stream change is the best course — while it is by no means clear at this juncture where the Mavericks would turn in terms of a long-term successor — it's believed that step would be taken not only for its vibe shift potential and as a means to try to win back alienated fans,” Stein continued. “But also based on the premise that the front office executive who conceived and pushed for the widely criticized Dončić deal can no longer be the one trying to pilot the organization past it.”
At any rate, Dallas currently has a 3-7 record, as the team next faces the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
