Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts spoke to select members of the media behind closed doors on Tuesday, just a day before the Mavericks’ Play-in Tournament game on the road against the Sacramento Kings.
The Mavericks did release a transcript of the conversation later and provided in full by various outlets, including WFAA.com.
It was just the second time Harrison spoke on the record with the media since the Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis in a trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package deal on Feb. 2.
Dončić was in his seventh season with the Mavericks and had just led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Nico Harrison’s latest comments on Luka Doncic trade
“There’s no regrets on the trade,” Harrison said. “Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future. And some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular, and that’s my job, and I have to stand by it.”
The decision to move on from Dončić led to a vocal group of the Dallas fan base showing up outside of the arena to express their displeasure. In the following weeks, fans are still heard chanting “Fire Nico” throughout the arena during home games at the American Airlines Center.
ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon asked Harrison about the GM’s ‘three to four-year time frame’ where he believes the team is ready to contend for a championship.
“I keep saying the same thing, but defense wins championships,” Harrison said. “I believe that we have a championship caliber team, not only for now, but also for the future.”
MacMahon also questioned the decision behind trading the Mavericks’ first-round draft picks from 2027 through 2030 and Dončić.
“Obviously, the future will hold if I’m right or wrong, and ultimately, we’re going to be held to the standard of wins and losses, and every executive in every field is going to be held to that same standard.”
Dončić is known for his offensive ability, but the trade for Davis is expected to help bolster the Mavericks’ defense.
Davis has never won defensive player of the year, but has been held in high regard as one of the better defensive players in the league and has been named to an All-Defensive Team five times during the first 12 years of his career.
The early results of the trade didn’t look pleasing for the Mavericks, who lost several players to injury, including Davis, who was injured during his first game as a Maverick before returning for the last few games of the regular season schedule. The team had also lost star point guard Kyrie Irving for the season shortly after.