Nico Harrison's Dončić Disaster
A Nike rep gets Peter Principled and the Mavericks get wrecked
The Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis trade is a moment that may never be replicated in NBA history. Unexpected events have taken place before, but this is the first one I can remember where literally everyone’s reaction was to doubt the veracity of what just took place. A superstar, on the cusp of age 26, traded away for a famously brittle All-Star nearing age 32? There are other aspects to the trade, but that’s the main thrust. Everyone assumed ESPN NBA reporter Shams Charania had been hacked. Apparently, upon getting the scoop, even Shams had assumed he’d been hacked.
The trade doesn’t make sense. Dallas GM Nico Harrison’s explanation doesn’t make sense. And so many a person is working hard to make sense of it. There’s a viral thread done by a smart Mavericks fan on how this is all perhaps a play by new ownership to tank the team, just for the sake of increased leverage in getting a casino resort built.
I’m not saying this explanation is impossible, but I would argue it’s implausible. Occam's razor applies, even when we’re lost in the hyper complex world of NBA deal making. As in, the answer to why this disaster happened might be right in front of us: Mavericks’ general manager Nico Harrison should not have gotten this job.
This notion might be in conflict with Friend of Pod Nate Jones’ view of the situation, who speaks well of Harrison, but I keep coming back to it. I feel almost guilty saying it because I served up what had been, until this moment, the greatest humiliation of Nico Harrison’s career. Let me tell you a bit about that article, from back in 2016, and then get into why I don’t think a team should typically hire sneaker marketing reps to the general management position. Let me also get into why Mark Cuban did just that.
The Nike Disaster
For months back in 2016, I tried to get Nico’s side of the story. I attempted it over text, email and in person. I approached him in pregame, at Oracle Arena. I did not want to embarrass the guy. I was actually afraid I’d ruin his career and do so unfairly. It just so happened that he was point person as Steph Curry’s Nike rep at the time Nike lost Steph’s services to Under Armour.