Initially, Donnie Nelson was an assistant coach to Don Nelson. Donnie grew to become the overall supervisor in 2005, a place he would maintain till 2021. His successor is Nico Harrison, who made the Luka Doncic commerce.
Donnie Nelson is a legend for the Dallas Mavericks for orchestrating the 2011 championship. Nelson was the architect of that staff and lots of different important strikes for the franchise. That features making the draft-day commerce in 2018 to amass Luka Doncic.
In 2021, Nelson would half methods with the Mavericks, and Nico Harrison took over. Harrison was immediately a preferred determine as a result of he made savvy strikes, together with getting Kyrie Irving. Since 2021, the Mavericks have gone to 2 Western Convention Finals and an NBA Finals.
Sadly for Harrison, his choice to commerce Doncic continues to stay with him. The Doncic commerce is actually synonymous along with his title now. This has led to reactions, and former Dallas GM Donnie Nelson has mentioned the commerce.
Nelson was a beloved determine throughout his time with the Mavericks. Many of the legendary gamers had nothing however reward for him. He at all times handled the gamers and workers with respect, which made them massive followers. Harrison irked individuals with the strikes, together with letting go of Casey Smith, the staff’s well being and efficiency director.
Nelson constructed the staff effectively, as he at all times discovered methods to remain aggressive. When Dirk Nowitzki was in his prime, Nelson at all times constructed the staff with the German in thoughts. Nowitzki was on the verge of retirement within the mid-to-late 2010s. After seeing Nelson decide Doncic, Nowitzki was excited to participate, so he stayed for the 2018-19 season.
Nelson was additionally in tune with what the followers wished throughout his tenure as GM. He at all times wished to do proper by the followers, which some individuals suppose Harrison didn’t. The Doncic commerce shocked the entire NBA world, however the Mavericks followers felt damage by the transfer.
“Throughout my years in Dallas, we at all times thought of what was vital to that neighborhood. And we regarded on the gamers being part of that. It was by no means like we went to considered one of our ATMs, took out a participant, used him till he was most helpful, after which threw him away,” Nelson mentioned to EKIPA’s Andrej Milijkovic about what he felt concerning the Doncic commerce.
“These issues had been sacred to us. After all, that is the NBA, and trades can occur, gamers come and go. However with all due respect, you need to perceive that some gamers are totally different, particular, and much more vital to the atmosphere and the neighborhood.”
“It’s vital to deal with these gamers with respect. That’s why there was a lot disappointment after what occurred to Luka.”
After the Doncic commerce, many in Dallas disliked Harrison. Nonetheless, they nonetheless got here away as winners when the Mavericks received the NBA Draft Lottery. They obtained the #1 total decide, Cooper Flagg, who’s now on the staff.
Harrison has a imaginative and prescient for the Mavericks with Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving. Harrison at all times preached that protection is the perfect path to a championship. Since Doncic was a defensive legal responsibility, this was the appropriate transfer from Harrison’s perspective. Fortunately, the draft lottery favored the Mavericks.
On this new period, the Mavericks will likely be one of many hardest groups to play in opposition to. Regardless of this promising future, Mavericks followers is not going to overlook that Harrison traded away a legend like Doncic. The commerce left a bitter feeling across the Mavericks group, which is not going to go away anytime quickly.
