Mavericks rumors: Mark Cuban involved in meeting that sealed Nico Harrison's fate

With the Dallas Mavericks firing general manager Nico Harrison, it seemed like a long time coming for fans of the franchise ever since the shocking trade of moving Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. As the rumors will continue surrounding the Mavericks and Harrison continue, the latest reporting explains Mark Cuban's involvement.

NBA insider Marc Stein would report that after Monday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, a decision had “essentially already been made by that point” regarding Harrison's firing. Also, owner Patrick Dumon would meet with Dallas president Rick Welts and even the former owner in Cuban before the meeting on Tuesday to fire Harrison.

“During a fall-from-ahead loss Monday night to the Milwaukee Bucks, Harrison was actually subjected to only a few fourth-quarter strains of the Fire Nico chant that has become so commonplace in Mavsland since the spring, but league sources tell The Stein Line that a decision had essentially already been made by that point,” Stein wrote.

“Dumont arrived at the American Airlines Center for Monday's game far earlier than usual — nearly two hours before tipoff. Sources say he met behind closed doors pregame with both team president Rick Welts and former majority owner Mark Cuban and duly scheduled meetings for Tuesday to end Harrison's reign and also to inform players personally about the timing of the change,” Stein continued.

Nico Harrison's Mavericks tenure was highlighted by Luka Doncic trade

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena. — © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Article Continues Below

As the basketball world has been reacting to the recent news, like Stephen A. Smith calling out many within the Mavericks, the involvement of Cuban is no doubt interesting. If there has been one person who questioned the decision to trade Doncic, it was Cuban, as even Smith said on ESPN's “First Take” that if Cuban was still the owner, “that would have never happened.”

“And by the way, let's not absolve the ownership right, because if Mark Cuban were there, that would have never happened,” Smith said. “Mark Cuban has repeatedly stated he would have never traded Luka Doncic; that was not a move that he endorsed.

“So, Mavs ownership is more responsible for this than anyone for letting it happen because they didn't want to pay him that supermax contract,” Smith continued. “But in the end, owners don't fire themselves. They find somebody to blame, and Nico Harrison went all in. He knew that it could eventually cost him, and unfortunately, it has.”