Daily TribuneMavericks fans are left asking: is this all karma for betraying Luka? Or is it simply the price of poor decision-making from the man who orchestrated it all?
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Dallas Mavericks fans hold up a sign referring to Mavs general manager Nico Harrison during the game against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center on February 10, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
Tim Heitman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Nico Harrison, the architect of the Dallas Mavericks’ current nightmare, made the move that sent shockwaves through the NBA — trading away franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić for the perpetually banged-up Anthony Davis.
It was a decision met with disbelief. Harrison believed he was crafting a "win-now" roster, but instead, he ignited a collapse. Once a legitimate title contender, the Mavericks are now in free fall, while the Lakers are thriving.
For Mavericks fans, the betrayal cut deep. The young Slovenian had carried the franchise for years, leading them to the Finals just a season prior. Social media erupted in outrage, jerseys were burned, and analysts struggled to justify the trade.
Dončić had a slow start adjusting in Los Angeles, but it didn’t take long for him to settle in. Given full control of the Lakers’ offense, he formed a deadly duo with LeBron James. L.A. surged to a 9-4 record since the blockbuster deal, climbing to fourth in the Western Conference with a 40-23 record.
Meanwhile, Dallas unraveled.
Davis, now 32, gave Mavericks fans a glimmer of hope in his debut, posting 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks in a 116-105 victory at the American Airlines Center. But that optimism was short-lived. Midway through the third quarter, Davis collapsed to the floor, clutching his leg. A groin strain would sideline him indefinitely, leaving the Mavericks' future in jeopardy.
Then, the injuries piled up.
Three days later, Daniel Gafford sprained his right knee in a home loss to the Kings. Derek Lively suffered a stress fracture in his ankle. Five days after Gafford’s injury, P.J. Washington went down with a right ankle sprain in a blowout loss to Milwaukee. The Mavericks’ frontcourt was decimated.
But the biggest blow came when Kyrie Irving suffered a gruesome ACL tear in yet another loss to Sacramento. In an instant, Dallas’ championship aspirations crumbled.
The bad luck didn’t stop there. Brandon Williams tweaked his hamstring. Dwight Powell collided with Kessler Edwards while going after a loose ball and never returned. One by one, the Mavericks were falling apart, leaving only an aging Klay Thompson as the last remaining star.
As if scripted by fate, Dončić and the Lakers returned to Dallas for one of the most anticipated regular-season showdowns in years. The stage was set, and Luka delivered a poetic dose of revenge — a 19-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple-double in a 107-99 Lakers victory.
Now, Dallas sits at 33-34, barely holding on to a play-in spot. Their "win-now" approach has imploded, their roster is in shambles, and their championship window has slammed shut.
Meanwhile, the Lakers, powered by Dončić, are soaring.
Mavericks fans are left to wonder — was this karma for betraying Luka? Or was it simply the inevitable result of poor decision-making by the man who orchestrated it all — Nico Harrison?
