Time has spoken: Nico Harrison and the worst gamble in Mavs history

For the second straight year, the Dallas Mavericks shook the NBA right before the trade deadline. And once again, Anthony Davis was the face of a move destined to spark debate.

This trade to the Washington Wizards is more than a market transaction, it marks the definitive end of one of the most controversial chapters in recent franchise history.

In practical terms, it certifies the failure of a project that never truly took shape. With this decision, the Mavericks officially close the book on the legacy of Nico Harrison, the former general manager who twelve months earlier had stunned the entire NBA with a move that rewrote the team’s future.

What the Mavs really got for Luka Doncic

The trade that brought Anthony Davis to Dallas was built on the sacrifice of Luka Doncic, then 26 years old and the undisputed face of the franchise. With hindsight, the full picture of that deal is even more striking.

The Mavericks officially traded away Luka Doncic and received:

• Khris Middleton
• Max Christie
• AJ Johnson
• Malaki Branham
• Marvin Bagley III
• Three first-round picks
• Second-round picks

A large package on paper – but a collection of assets that never truly compensated, neither on the court nor in terms of identity, for the loss of one of the most dominant players in the league.

“Time will tell if I’m right”: time has delivered the verdict

After the Doncic–Davis trade, Nico Harrison defended his vision with a sentence that quickly became symbolic:

Time will tell if I’m right

Nico Harrison

One year later, that quote has resurfaced everywhere. Journalist Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints summed it up bluntly:

Time has truly spoken

Joey Mistretta, ClutchPoints

And the facts point clearly in one direction.

Anthony Davis in Dallas: talent, numbers, and fragility

Anthony Davis’ stint with the Mavericks ended after just 29 games. Once again, injuries played a decisive role, culminating in a multi-month absence due to a hand injury.

When on the floor, Davis delivered 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game, All-Star-level numbers that never translated into continuity or stability. The project built around him never found solid footing or real certainty.

The break with the fanbase and Harrison’s exit

Harrison justified the Doncic trade by openly citing conditioning concerns, presenting Davis as the new cornerstone of the franchise. That interpretation only deepened tensions with the fanbase.

In November, Harrison was fired, followed by public apologies from owner Patrick Dumont, who had approved the deal. The message was unmistakable: “bringing winning basketball back to Dallas” had become a non-negotiable priority.

A closed chapter, with a heavy legacy

The trade sending Davis to Washington is not just another roster move. It is the symbol of a lost bet, of a vision that failed the test of both the court and time. Dallas now looks to rebuild by accumulating assets and flexibility – but the scars left by the decision to part ways with Luka Dončić will linger for years.

Time, as Nico Harrison once said, has spoken.
And for the Mavericks, the verdict could not be clearer.