Nobody envisioned the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers until February 2, 2025. Not one player would feel secure right now after it went through, and that’s a fact. Yet, the aftermath of the trade left the Lakers with a 50-32 record and claimed the third spot in the Western Conference.
On the other hand, the Mavericks finished 10th and succumbed to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-in tournament, as the tides have turned. The cameras frequently showed Harrison when the Slovenian guard returned to the American Airlines Center. At the same time, he kept draining buckets in the Lakers’ 112-97 victory, finishing the night with 45 points, a season-high. Yes, it didn’t paint a pretty picture of Harrison and Dallas.
Now, an NBA insider, Tim Cato, claimed the Mavericks’ head coach, Jason Kidd, resented the Dončić trade, which is certainly unsurprising, to say the least. Since the trade transpired, Nico Harrison has continued to face fan backlash in the form of “Fire Nico” chants raging through Dallas.
NBA Insider Details Jason Kidd’s Standpoint on Luka Dončić’s Shocking Trade
“While Kidd was understandably frustrated this season with the team’s injury crisis, he also resented the front office’s midseason Dončić trade, multiple team and league sources say, even if he shared some of Harrison’s frustrations with Dončić that led to his trade of him,” mentioned Cato, regarding Kidd’s perspective regarding the team.
Report: Jason Kidd “resented” the Mavs midseason Luka trade, per Cato#MFFL pic.twitter.com/ujhHK0SWEn
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL)
When Dončić took his talents to Crypto.com Arena, Anthony Davis arrived in Dallas to pick up the demoralized franchise. Earning 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks would help the franchise’s cause, but he left the game with an injury. Kidd’s resentments remained palpable, with Davis’ unfortunate injury history put in the spotlight.
Cato continued, “That Kidd felt he had been asked to reinvent what had been a roster built around one specific star, team and league sources say, led to the midseason exasperation that notably culminated in him skipping a league-mandated post-game press conference in February.”
Kidd’s situation went from bad to worse when Kyrie Irving finished his season with a torn ACL. All hell broke loose as the Mavericks GM’s plans neared derailment. There came a point in the season when the Mavericks considered forfeiting matches because of the lack of players.
Yet, Kidd has his work cut out.
Jason Kidd Hopes To Find a Winning Formula for the Mavericks
With the team heading to the offseason and Irving with a player-option in his contract, it’s unlikely he would cancel the $44 million agreement, especially when he misses half of the 2025-26 season.
Rebuild or no rebuild? Kidd hopes to figure it out. Players like Irving, Davis, and Klay Thompson have valuable experience and a winning pedigree (all three won NBA titles at some point in their careers).
But the aging legs and fitness issues dominate most headlines. After an emotional Dončić shyly stuttered, “It’s time to move on,” after returning to the city as a Laker, the franchise hits the reset button. GM Harrison hopes for the best winning formula as Kidd’s coaching prowess takes center stage for the next two seasons.
