According to Colin Cowherd, the trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers wasn’t entirely Nico Harrison’s decision as the Dallas Mavericks’ general manager—it came from much higher up. On a recent episode of the Colin Cowherd Podcast, Cowherd revealed that Harrison was “pressured” to make the trade.
“I called somebody yesterday who has known Nico Harrison, the GM who made the deal, the Mavericks GM, and I said, ‘What happened?’ And this person said, ‘This came from above and beyond the general manager,'” Cowherd explained. “And when you only get one first-round pick back, that is somebody in ownership telling you, ‘Just make the deal.'”
Cowherd continued, stating, “That is pressure from upstairs. Nico Harrison knows that one first-round pick is not enough.”
The trade, which sent Dončić away in exchange for a minimal return, has raised plenty of questions about the Mavericks’ decision-making. Despite Harrison’s attempts to justify the move, it’s clear that the franchise’s future could have been significantly altered.
While the Mavericks have now assembled a star-studded core of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson, critics argue that the deal may have cost them their generational talent in Dončić. The trade, which many believe to be a gamble for a slim shot at a title, has left fans questioning if the Mavericks could have had a better chance at winning with Dončić still leading the team.
