Mavericks' Nico Harrison replacement delay threatens to derail a critical offseason

The Dallas Mavericks are just 18 days away from the start of the NBA Draft Combine as well as the NBA Draft Lottery, yet they still don't have a new general manager after firing Nico Harrison last November, and time is of the essence to find someone soon, given how crucial this upcoming draft will be.

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont opted not to hire a search firm to lead the quest for a new GM, as he'll basically make the decision himself, along with anyone else he consults on the matter. Dallas has been reported to be interested in a flurry of top candidates, with Minnesota Timberwolves GM Tim Connelly being their main target, but it's hard to see a world where they lure a top GM from another team who is already in a favorable situation.

The clock is ticking on Dallas to hire a new GM

Dallas could certainly look to hire from within by appointing one of Michael Finley or Matt Riccardi as GM, as they did a stellar job with the Anthony Davis trade, and would be more cost-effective compared to other candidates. However, they may not have the team-building experience to help jumpstart the Cooper Flagg era as quickly as possible.

Of course, we won't know what any GM is truly capable of till they have some time under their belt leading a team to Finley and Riccardi's credit. However, the Mavericks need to choose a GM relatively soon, and undoubtedly before the NBA Draft in June. Finding Flagg's co-star of the future in this draft lottery is essential, given Dallas doesn't control any of their own first-round picks till 2031, as a whiff in this draft could cost the Mavericks of being competitive in Flagg's first few seasons in the league.

The Mavericks' GM search shows no real movement

Whether it's a point guard like Darius Acuff Jr., or Dallas were to land inside the top-four and simply take the best player available, the new GM has to be certain about how well Dallas' lottery pick will fit with Flagg in the coming years. This comes down to Dallas' scouting department as well, and certainly isn't a one-man decision, but it's a pick they cannot afford to screw up with their lack of controllable first-round picks going forward.

Preferably, Dallas would have a new GM ahead of the draft combine and lottery, so they have at least a month or two to fully evaluate the situation and determine who they should pair with Flagg in this loaded 2026 draft class, but there still hasn't been any real movement on a GM hire as of this writing.

It's unlikely they lure Connelly from the Timberwolves unless Minnesota has a terrible exit in round one versus the Denver Nuggets, so the Mavericks may have to come up with another solution rather quickly. While the top of the 2026 draft class is loaded as ever, there are busts in every draft, and Dallas making the wrong pick could really compromise the start of the Flagg era in terms of being competitive, and this possibility is more likely without a GM getting to analyze all his possibilities.

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