The Dallas Mavericks won Game 5 of the 7-game Western Conference Finals playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 124-103, earning a spot in the NBA Finals and dashing Minnesota’s championship hopes for this year.
The Mavericks’ success can be attributed to the contributions of many individuals, including players and coaches. However, General Manager Nico Harrison played a crucial role in building the team we see today. After the Mavericks failed to make the playoffs in the previous season, Harrison made significant changes to the team and roster, greatly contributing to their success this year.
The 51-year-old general manager made impactful moves such as trading for Dereck Lively II on draft day, signing Derrick Jones Jr., trading for PJ Washington, and acquiring Daniel Gafford. These four players have all made a significant impact on Dallas’ journey to the Finals.
After the previous season, Nico Harrison believes passing on Irving would have been hazardous
In between the previous season, the Mavericks traded Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie for Kyrie Irving. The Mavs never saw this move as risky or a mistake, despite ESPN grading it a ‘D’ in trading.
According to the Mavs’ general manager, the team has trusted Irving since the day they made the trade for him, and Harrison believes passing on Irving would have been hazardous. Although some questioned whether Doncic and Irving would make a solid long-term match in Dallas, the Mavericks never did. However, the opposite happened this year; the dynamic duo Doncic and Irving dominated the series with amazing back-to-back performances.
During a recent interview, Irving spoke openly about his leadership role on the team this season. The Mavericks guard carefully considered how he embraced this position during the current season.
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