Well, it finally happened.
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison, adding that executives Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will lead basketball operations in the interim.
Finley and Riccard have their work cut out for them in terms of undoing Harrison's seemingly irreversible mistakes, headlined by the Luka Doncic trade that shocked the NBA world nine months ago.
Mavericks should rebuild around Cooper Flagg after Nico Harrison firing
Dallas had (delusional) championship aspirations with their win-now trade for Anthony Davis, but currently has the second-worst record in the Western Conference after starting 3-8 due to untimely injuries to key players.
While they can't get a top-three player in the world back, Mavericks fans should feel optimism, or at the very least a sense of relief, that Dallas is finally turning the page on this historically disastrous story.
In many ways, their long-term outlook was bailed out by landing Duke forward Cooper Flagg this summer despite having just a 1.8% chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick. Now, Dallas should build around the likes of Flagg, Dereck Lively II, and their 2026 draft pick.
They made the right (and long overdue) decision to move on from Harrison, but the only way to fully enter the next chapter is by undoing his mistakes and entering a rebuilding phase. Their slow start, the strength of the Western Conference, the headliners in the 2026 draft class, and somehow having Flagg on the roster should make that decision a no-brainer.
Blazers should pursue Naji Marshall to address their lack of depth
If that is the route Dallas ultimately decides to take, one player in particular that Portland should inquire about is Naji Marshall.
This season, Marshall is averaging 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals on 47/21/83 shooting splits. While the three-point shooting is admittedly a concern for a Blazers team that desperately needs more floor spacing, Marshall's defensive versatility at 6-foot-6 is a perfect fit for Portland's roster strengths and identity.
Most importantly, Marshall would provide Portland with a relatively cheap yet reliable forward option to help address their lackluster depth. Marshall is owed roughly $9 million over each of the next two seasons.
Currently, Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter has been forced to rely on Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko as wing options off the bench. Portland quietly has one of the shallowest benches in the league due to injuries, which isn't an ideal pairing for Splitter, considering the quick rotations he likes to implement.
If Portland is serious about ending a four-year playoff drought, it'll need to address its lack of depth. Marshall could be the cheap upgrade they need, while also providing insurance for Matisse Thybulle's expiring contract.
These chaotic times in Dallas present a golden opportunity for other teams to capitalize, and for Portland, it makes perfect sense for that piece to be Marshall.