Tim MacMahon on Nico Harrison addressing Luka Doncic trade to Lakers: Nico Harrison doubled down, he tripled down, he quadrupled down… I could go on, I ran out of fingers counting how many times that he said defense wins championships. So he’s sticking with that. Now, the Mavericks last year had the top defense in the league for the final 20 games, even in the finals against the Celtics, 109.2 defensive rating. That would have ranked second in the league last regular season. They lost that series for other reasons but that logic maybe doesn’t necessarily add up. Neither does this: The Mavericks owe their first round draft capital for deals they made to successfully build around Luca in ’27, ’28, ’29 and ’30, either outright or swaps. Nico Harrison created what he calls a three-to-four year time frame to be a championship contender, obviously year one ruined by injuries. I pushed back on the logic of that. He just kept going back to the defense wins championships mantra. Quite frankly, a lot doesn’t make sense but Nico made it clear he does plan to be the general manager of the Mavericks for the rest of his contract, which has three years left.
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Jarred Vanderbilt on the difference in the Lakers’ energy this spring compared to the last couple years after also making midseason roster adjustments: “I mean, we added Luka Doncic this time …” pic.x.com/MYa44lLj1p – 10:14 PM
Jarred Vanderbilt on the difference in the Lakers’ energy this spring compared to the last couple years after also making midseason roster adjustments: “I mean, we added Luka Doncic this time …” pic.x.com/MYa44lLj1p – 10:14 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
GM Nico Harrison would do it all again and more from him and CEO Rick Welts on assorted topics.
mavs.com/nico-welts-q-a… – 10:12 PM
GM Nico Harrison would do it all again and more from him and CEO Rick Welts on assorted topics.
mavs.com/nico-welts-q-a… – 10:12 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison, ‘There’s no regrets on the trade’
“When you look at this trade, we targeted A.D. with our philosophy of defense wins championships.”
nbcsports.com/nba/news/maver… – 9:32 PM
Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison, ‘There’s no regrets on the trade’
“When you look at this trade, we targeted A.D. with our philosophy of defense wins championships.”
nbcsports.com/nba/news/maver… – 9:32 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Couldn’t fit everything into my story so I’m going to share a few quotes from the roundtable discussion.
Harrison on how much of Kyrie Irving’s ascension since he arrived in Dallas was part of the reasoning that the Mavs could let go of Luka Doncic, along with the importance of – 9:21 PM
Couldn’t fit everything into my story so I’m going to share a few quotes from the roundtable discussion.
Harrison on how much of Kyrie Irving’s ascension since he arrived in Dallas was part of the reasoning that the Mavs could let go of Luka Doncic, along with the importance of – 9:21 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
No, in no way is trading Monta Ellis comparable to trading Luka Doncic on a scale of importance or questionability, but I don’t recall any NBA owner getting more brutally booed than this.
youtube.com/watch?v=mbij4V… – 9:07 PM
No, in no way is trading Monta Ellis comparable to trading Luka Doncic on a scale of importance or questionability, but I don’t recall any NBA owner getting more brutally booed than this.
youtube.com/watch?v=mbij4V… – 9:07 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
2025 NBA Playoffs preview: Players to watch, including Luka Doncic, can Jalen Williams step up for Thunder?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/2025-… – 5:53 PM
2025 NBA Playoffs preview: Players to watch, including Luka Doncic, can Jalen Williams step up for Thunder?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/2025-… – 5:53 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Had a good morning/afternoon with my parents, then log on for two seconds and see Nico Harrison dragging Dirk. Gotta go for a walk. – 5:40 PM
Had a good morning/afternoon with my parents, then log on for two seconds and see Nico Harrison dragging Dirk. Gotta go for a walk. – 5:40 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Luka vs Minnesota in the playoffs:
32.4 PPG
9.6 RPG
8.2 APG
2.2 SPG
43.4 3P%
How many will he average this postseason? pic.x.com/JAbLaxahYK – 4:51 PM
Luka vs Minnesota in the playoffs:
32.4 PPG
9.6 RPG
8.2 APG
2.2 SPG
43.4 3P%
How many will he average this postseason? pic.x.com/JAbLaxahYK – 4:51 PM
Donatas Urbonas @Urbodo
Nadir Hifi, the EuroLeague Rising Star award winner, is the first U22 player since Luka Doncic to average 14.7 points per game.
No other player under 22 has hit that mark in the round-robin era, which began in the 2016–17 season.
📊 @DariusGaruolis – 2:21 PM
Nadir Hifi, the EuroLeague Rising Star award winner, is the first U22 player since Luka Doncic to average 14.7 points per game.
No other player under 22 has hit that mark in the round-robin era, which began in the 2016–17 season.
📊 @DariusGaruolis – 2:21 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Has any trade in the history sports been compared to both the Babe Ruth trade and the Monta Ellis trade?
Not even from team employees (as is the case with the Luka trade), but, like, from any two human beings ever?
This is some “1,000 monkeys at 1,000 typewriters” nonsense. – 2:03 PM
Has any trade in the history sports been compared to both the Babe Ruth trade and the Monta Ellis trade?
Not even from team employees (as is the case with the Luka trade), but, like, from any two human beings ever?
This is some “1,000 monkeys at 1,000 typewriters” nonsense. – 2:03 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts spoke to a group of reporters today at American Airlines Center about an array of topics. Will have a story coming soon. – 12:03 PM
Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts spoke to a group of reporters today at American Airlines Center about an array of topics. Will have a story coming soon. – 12:03 PM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts just wrapped up an hour-long session with select members of Dallas-based media.
“Defense wins championships” was the phrase uttered most often.
Will have full coverage on @espn this afternoon. – 12:01 PM
Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts just wrapped up an hour-long session with select members of Dallas-based media.
“Defense wins championships” was the phrase uttered most often.
Will have full coverage on @espn this afternoon. – 12:01 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Mavericks execs Nico Harrison and Rick Welts are holding a roundtable this AM with selected Dallas media members.
Cameras/audio recording devices were not permitted for Harrison’s first session with local reporters since the Luka Dončić trade.
More NBA: tinyurl.com/yrmzrx83 pic.x.com/mHeVLMn8BQ – 11:03 AM
Mavericks execs Nico Harrison and Rick Welts are holding a roundtable this AM with selected Dallas media members.
Cameras/audio recording devices were not permitted for Harrison’s first session with local reporters since the Luka Dončić trade.
More NBA: tinyurl.com/yrmzrx83 pic.x.com/mHeVLMn8BQ – 11:03 AM
Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Biggest Concern vs Timberwolves? | Best Chance For Bron & Luka Together? Luka Top’s Jersey Sales x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM
Biggest Concern vs Timberwolves? | Best Chance For Bron & Luka Together? Luka Top’s Jersey Sales x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM
More on this storyline
Tim MacMahon: Nothing that was said today is going to calm down a completely outraged fan base. Why did this happen now? Because Patrick Dumont wanted it to happen. He actually wanted it to happen a couple weeks ago before Luka’s return. -via YouTube / April 16, 2025
He also has yet to shut the door on a possible return to the NBA if the right situation presents itself. Howard says if he and Luka were to ever team up on the Lakers, the point guard would score on the pick-and-roll “every time” with Howard. “Luka would score every time — we’ll get a bucket every time,” says Howard. “It would be very difficult for them to stop me and Luka in a pick and roll. My screens are so deadly. The only thing they would do is call offensive fouls, but my screens would be so good and Luka will have so much freedom coming off my screens that it will open up his game to a new level. Me rolling to the rim is going to draw so much attention because nobody’s going to want me to dunk. It would bring so much energy to the team.” -via Basketball Insiders / April 16, 2025
As far as who will win it all? Howard predicts the LeBron James and Luka Doncic-led Lakers. “The Lakers scare me because if LeBron is healthy in the playoffs, it’s going to be tough for teams to beat them in a seven-game series,” Howard told Basketball Insiders in an exclusive interview. “My mind is saying the Lakers are going to win this year. I see the Lakers against Cleveland.” -via Basketball Insiders / April 16, 2025