Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[F Gump]

Exactly. I am still amazed how the organization allowed such a shortsided and to an extent irrational move to happen. I can understand Nico thinks Mavs are better with AD than with Luka. I don't agree, but I can understand. However, there are so many other aspects to the trade that seem to be totally ignored by Mavs decision makers and are now biting them:
- Luka is far bigger star than Davis - definite financial loss, both short and long term. This one was so easy to see that I simply can't understand how this was explained and accepted by decision makers. No titles would replace loss of income imho. 
- fan outrage. I can understand the idea about outrage being far lower, if Mavs would perform after the trade. But, that was a gamble Nico took and it didn't work his way. Injuries are unfortunately for him just a poor excuse. He went all in and didn't deliver. 
- long term aspect. Both Irving and Davis will be out of their prime in a couple of years. How do you pivot afterwards? Pivot with Luka on his supermax would be easy, unless he would totally fall apart injury wise. Something, I simply don't see as possible, as his game depends way more on skill than athleticism. 
- team was built for Luka, not Davis. With Davis in, "half of team" is playing out of position. PJ is a PF, not a SF. Klay is a SF, not a SG. Gafford and Lively are PnR centers and their value alone was immediately halved with Luka trade, imho. 

As I said before, I just don't think Mavs have a path forward with Nico. I understand he is begging for a two to three year window for his plan to produce results on the court (and be judged afterwards), but he simply neglected so many other aspects, that put Mavs in a situation where they are now. I don't think Mavs have a calm path forward with Nico. A couple of scenarios things could calm down seem very, very unrealistic to happen:
- Mavs win the lottery or
- Mavs have a historically great start of next season or
- Mavs make a huge "where did this come from" trade in the summer that would net them a star player without gutting the team

I understand firing Nico would be also an admission by Dumont that he screwed up and perhaps this would mean consequences for him, which is why he is reluctant to do it. This part I don't know anything about, so it is difficult to judge. Perhaps he can't say that he put trust on the wrong person who previous owner put in charge and will be much more careful going forward. That he understands and hears the fans and will start by firing Nico as a first step towards building a better future. Perhaps he just can't afford to say this.

Great analysis of this stupidity and where we are now. Thank you.

I would underscore one point that I think is crucial, and that I hope the Mavs owners figure out quickly. As you put it, "I just don't think Mavs have a path forward with Nico." Nico has no clue that the fanbase (your customers, you idiot!) is vitally important, more than anything else - what the Adelsons own is not an exercise in making a good team, but in making fans thrilled to like the Mavs and spending gobs of money in that quest. Nico hasn't made the 1st thing the 1st thing, and in fact doesn't even know that it exists as he keeps on insulting fans as not important! GM 101, grade F minus!

No REAL progress happens until Nico is shown the door. He has no clue.