The Dallas Mavericks are moving quickly to stabilize their front office following the imminent firing of general manager Nico Harrison.
Sources tell Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon that executives Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are set to lead basketball operations in an interim capacity.
Harrison’s departure comes nine months after the controversial trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, a decision owner Patrick Dumont later admitted was a mistake during a courtside interaction with a fan. The trade triggered significant fan backlash and left Harrison’s standing within the organization tenuous.
Internal tension had escalated in recent weeks, with Dumont bypassing Harrison on Anthony Davis’ return-to-play decisions. Tim MacMahon reported on The Hoop Collective that trust between the two had “completely disintegrated,” highlighted by a disagreement when Davis pushed to play in Washington last Saturday.
The Mavericks have struggled through the start of the 2025–26 season, holding a 3–8 record through 11 games. Home challenges, coupled with injuries to Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford, have left the team searching for consistency despite strong individual outings from Davis, Cooper Flagg, and D’Angelo Russell.
Marc Stein reported that influential voices within the organization have already suggested bringing back former Harrison adviser Dennis Lindsey, who currently works in Detroit, though the immediate focus is on the interim structure. The Mavericks are expected to solidify long-term front office plans once Finley and Riccardi begin overseeing operations.
Harrison defended the Doncic trade by emphasizing a defensive-focused rebuild and naming Davis as a central piece of the franchise’s future identity. Still, fan sentiment has remained overwhelmingly negative, leaving the organization in a position where swift leadership decisions are now necessary.
Finley and Riccardi’s appointments aim to stabilize the Mavericks’ operations while management evaluates potential candidates for a permanent leadership role. Lindsey, with prior experience advising Harrison and shaping successful rosters in Utah, is among the names under consideration.
