Grading Nico Harrison on his first season as Dallas Mavericks GM

Grading Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison in year 1: Roster construction

Harrison plugged some holes in their roster in his first season on the job. The Mavs needed to improve their defense after finishing 21st in defensive rating in 2021, so they added Reggie Bullock and Frank Ntilikina in free agency along with changing their scheme to vault to ninth.

Harrison added another ball-handler and more shooting around Luka Doncic on the offensive end of the floor. The Mavericks did not finish where they wanted to in offensive rating, but their poor early-season shooting was partially to blame. Dallas reached the conference finals in part because of the pieces Harrison and coach Kidd put around Luka.

Roster construction grade for Nico Harrison in Year 1 as Dallas Mavericks GM: A

The Mavs failed to put another star around Luka Doncic, but short of that, Dallas did fantastic building their roster. Harrison will have to plug other holes in Year 2 for the Mavericks to take another step forward, but he deserves credit for what he has put in place.

It is not just the moves either. The Dallas Mavericks won because of their defense and chemistry, which are two things the team lacked before Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd arrived in the summer of 2021.