The Dallas Mavericks have officially fired General Manager Nico Harrison and must now look to the future for a path to success.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas decided to move on from Harrison following growing criticism from the fanbase and the disastrous start to the regular season, despite the general manager’s claims that this team is ready to compete for a championship.
Dallas has compiled a record of just 3-8 to start the season and is likely facing another berth in the NBA Draft Lottery, although questions remain about whether this team can compete in the near future.
While Harrison’s departure could improve the o
verall atmosphere within the Mavericks’ locker room this season, which could aid in the push for a playoff berth, there is still one crucial question that must be asked: What does the franchise’s future look like?
Moving forward, the Mavericks find themselves in an incredibly difficult spot due to the lack of control over their future first-round draft picks.
Luckily, the Mavericks own their own first-round draft pick for the 2026 Draft, meaning this team could capitalize on a difficult regular season during the upcoming offseason.
This selection should be used to add another young ballhandler to play alongside rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, who the Mavericks will presumably build the roster around for the next decade.
Dallas then loses control of those selections in the following drafts, with the team having no control over its first-round draft capital until the 2031 NBA Draft.
The Mavericks owe their 2027 first-round draft pick to the Charlotte Hornets, with the franchise also agreeing to pick swaps with other franchises during the 2028 and 2030 NBA Drafts.
Dallas also owes the Houston Rockets its first-round selection during the 2029 NBA Draft.
The good news for the franchise is that the team owns the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round selection in 2029, which means Dallas will still have a selection in the first round of that draft, albeit that pick will likely come near the end of the round.
Simply put, the Mavericks are likely going to be drafting players near the end of the first round for three consecutive drafts following the 2027 season.
Dallas is unlikely to secure rights to its own first-round draft picks over the coming years, meaning the team should still look to compete at a high level, as tanking the seasons would have almost no benefit to a team without control over its draft capital.
However, the Mavericks also have multiple difficult decisions to make regarding roster personnel, as certain players on the team appear to have little value on a team that appears destined for the draft lottery.
The Mavericks could look to move on from veteran players before the trade deadline in an attempt to acquire draft capital and young players to match the timeline of rookie forward Cooper Flagg.
While no trades have been discussed at this time, forward Anthony Davis and guard Klay Thompson stand out as the two most likely trade candidates.
Davis remains one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He consistently contributes at a high level on the offensive end of the court, making him the type of player that many contenders could look to acquire to help boost their championship chances.
Moving Davis, however, could be difficult due to his contract, as he is scheduled to make at least $58 million during the next two seasons following this year.
Additionally, Davis has missed significant time due to injuries over the past year, raising questions about whether he can maintain a playoff run on another team.
Despite these potential setbacks, Dallas could likely secure at least one future first-round draft pick and another young player for the future by trading Davis to a contender.
Meanwhile, Thompson is one of the best shooters in NBA history and could still contribute on a championship team, as his spacing and solid defense are the types of traits that many of the top teams are seeking.
Thompson has also struggled at times during his tenure in Dallas, raising questions about both his fit with this team and his desire to remain with the franchise after signing in free agency to play alongside Luka Doncic.
Although both players are set to play the next two seasons under major contracts, there are likely many teams that would be interested in acquiring them to help further their chances at an NBA Championship.
Finally, the Mavericks must decide whether to trade guard Kyrie Irving.
Irving has consistently expressed his love for both the franchise and the City of Dallas, but his presence on the team may not be necessary if the franchise enters a full rebuild.
Irving has proven to be a fit for the Mavericks on the court and in the locker room, but the guard is already 33 years old and is coming off a torn ACL, leaving little time in his career to compete for an NBA Championship.
The nine-time NBA All-Star could prefer a trade to a team that aligns more accurately with his timeline. If that is his desire, the Mavericks should facilitate a trade to a team that matches Irving’s preferences.
Losing Irving would be another difficult trade for Mavericks fans, but honoring the guard’s wishes could also help the franchise rebuild some credibility throughout the league after Dallas turned its back on Doncic.
Should Irving indicate that he would prefer to remain with the franchise, Dallas should keep him on the roster to help guide the young players while also contributing to wins and drawing fans to the American Airlines Center.
These potential moves are unlikely to help Dallas compete for a championship in the near future. Still, they might be necessary for this franchise to regain its footing in the league while repairing its relationship with Mavericks fans.