'Nico Harrison built arguably the best front line in the NBA': NBA insider praises Dallas Mavericks GM for drafting Cooper Flagg and landing Anthony Davis
Images via Getty Images
The boos were loud, and the backlash was fierce. When the Dallas Mavericks traded franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, fans wanted blood—specifically GM Nico Harrison's.
Chants of 'Fire Nico' rang out across Dallas, and a mock funeral even took place outside American Airlines Center. But just a few months later, everything feels different. On Thursday morning's episode of *Get Up*, ESPN insider Shams Charania praised Harrison's rebuild—one jumpstarted by selecting Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Cooper Flagg's debut and Kyrie Irving's recovery could make or break the Dallas Mavericks' season
After defying the odds to win the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, Dallas used its top selection on
Cooper Flagg
—officially turning the page on the Doncic era. Though the trade brought in veteran superstar
Anthony Davis
midseason, the decision to ship out Doncic was met with outrage.
Now, with a loaded frontcourt and a young star in Flagg, the mood around the Mavericks has changed.
'Whatever you want to say about the
Luka Doncic
trade,
Nico Harrison
has built arguably the best front line in the NBA,' Shams Charania said on 'Get Up'.
Charania pointed to a core group that now includes Davis, Flagg,
Dereck Lively II
, and
Daniel Gafford
, who recently signed a three-year, $60 million extension. Add PJ Washington's versatility and scoring, and Dallas suddenly boasts one of the league's most intimidating frontcourts.
Davis, acquired from the Lakers, played just nine games last season but still averaged 20 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks. Lively and Gafford each shot over 70% from the field, while Washington contributed 14.7 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.
Despite the promising rebuild, Dallas still faces one major question: Who's running the offense until
Kyrie Irving
returns? Irving, who tore his ACL in March, won't be rushed back.
According to Charania, he's targeting a return around January or February 2026.
'The biggest key of this season is going to be Kyrie Irving,' Charania said. 'He is the linchpin of everything they do there.'
Until then, Dallas is exploring short-term options using their mid-level exception—potentially D'Angelo Russell, Chris Paul, or Malcolm Brogdon.
Also Read:
LeBron James confirms return for 23rd season shaking up Los Angeles Lakers rebuild and NBA future
Drafting Flagg marked the dawn of a new era for Dallas. Harrison may have weathered the storm, but expectations haven't gone anywhere. The Mavericks are now built to contend—whether or not they actually do depends on the return of their All-Star guard and how the rest of the roster takes shape.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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