Copyright yardbarker
The Mavericks have not held any contract extension discussions with general manager Nico Harrison, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Harrison still has two years left on his deal, but his long-term future in Dallas appears uncertain as frustration grows among fans and the team’s rocky start continues. Chants of “Fire Nico!” echoed through the American Airlines Center during the closing moments of Friday’s 117-107 loss to the Wizards, marking the second straight defeat to open the season. As MacMahon noted, those chants have become familiar in Dallas since the February trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The Mavericks briefly regained hope this summer when they won the draft lottery and selected Duke standout Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. But through two games, Dallas ranks last in offensive efficiency, averaging just 95.5 points per 100 possessions while committing 37 turnovers combined. Mavs coach Jason Kidd, who signed a multiyear extension before the season, told reporters that fans have every right to vent but urged patience. “It’s a different team,” Kidd said, via ESPN. “We’re learning each other. We all want to win, and fans have the right to express themselves. That doesn’t stop us from coming to work tomorrow and getting better.” Harrison’s situation stands in contrast to Kidd’s. MacMahon reports the Mavericks quickly rewarded Kidd with an extension after blocking a pursuit from the Knicks over the summer, but no such talks have taken place with the GM who hired him. Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the Doncic trade, said the team’s problems are fixable. “We are beating ourselves,” Davis said. “Everything’s correctable and internal.” He led the Mavericks with 27 points and 13 rebounds but also committed five turnovers. Flagg, meanwhile, tried to find positives in the loss. The rookie scored 18 points and said he appreciated the crowd’s energy late in the game. “The fans showed up. They were amazing,” Flagg said. “We got to sustain that energy for the whole game.” Klay Thompson shouldered some responsibility. “You got to give them something to cheer for,” Thompson said. “We deserve the criticism. We’re the ones out there making it happen.” Despite the early turbulence, Davis said his concern level remains “zero,” saying that the season is long and the team will improve defensively, via MacMahon. For now, though, the Mavericks are winless, the fan base is restless, and their top basketball executive faces growing scrutiny without a new deal in sight.
