A few months after one of the most controversial chapters in Dallas Mavericks history, the organization has turned the page. Today, team owner Patrick Dumont fired infamous general manager Nico Harrison, who was responsible for trading franchise superstar Luka Doncic, a decision made hours after Dumont was seen courtside with a fan wearing a Lakers jersey featuring Doncic. Now, according to one insider, the move isn’t just about accountability, but also about resetting control after months of turmoil.

Shams Charania recently appeared on First Take and revealed the details of the situation. “Nico Harrison was informed around 9:15 a.m. that he would be meeting with Patrick Dumont at 10 a.m. Central Time,” he said. “That meeting was set for him to be fired and let go. I’m told that interaction with Patrick Dumont admitting to the fan that the organization had made a mistake with the Luka Doncic trade … and that he was going to take accountability for it and do right by the fans.”

Within 24 hours, Dumont followed through, trying to signal that Dallas is trying to reset their credibility after what might be one of the most shocking trades in recent NBA memory.

However, Charania added that the failure wasn’t Harrison’s alone: “At that time, it is important to note there was full alignment in that organization — from ownership to Nico Harrison to his staff, to coach Jason Kidd — on the potential of trading Luka Doncic.”

Kidd might not have finalized the deal, but Charania has now confirmed that the coach was aligned with Harrison, and it’s something that’s hard to overlook.

Kidd, according to some reports, remains in good standing with the ownership, having been extended twice during his tenure in Dallas, including this offseason, when he signed a multi-year deal with the team.

However, being complicit in the Doncic trade is putting eyes on him. One report claimed that Dumont is now expected to “lean heavily on Mavericks coach Jason Kidd.”

And transitions like these have happened in the NBA far more often. Gregg Popovich, the legendary San Antonio Spurs coach, stepped down as head coach in 2025 and moved into a full-time front office position as the team’s president of basketball operations.

He had a long history with the Spurs organization, starting as an assistant coach, then head coach, and finally moving to the front office within the same franchise. Moreover, Dwane Casey joined the Detroit Pistons front office after serving as the team’s head coach, continuing his basketball career within the same franchise but in a different capacity.

Of course, there’s always the chance that Kidd transitions to a front office role. Some reports seem to indicate that Kidd has “craved input,” especially during his previous stops with the Bucks and the Nets, and the chance to reset and build around Cooper Flagg is a tantalising opportunity.

To oversee the rebuild from an executive position would definitely give him more flexibility than as a coach, and it could also bring back estranged Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki, who has publicly distanced himself from the Mavericks following the Doncic trade.

Backlash Spreads in Dallas Mavericks Fandom From Nico Harrison to Jason Kidd

After reports surfaced indicating that head coach Jason Kidd was involved in the Luka Doncic trade, fans quickly took to social media to express their grievances.

One fan summarized Shams Charania’s reports, writing, “Shams confirming Kidd knew about the Luka trade before it happened… Kidd knew as well, he’s gotta go too!” The sentiment has quickly spread across various platforms, with many fans perceiving Kidd’s silence as someone just as guilty in collapsing the team as the now-fired Harrison.

Another comment read, “Kidd has to go too #MFFL.” The hashtag “Mavericks Fan For Life” captures the fan base’s collective feeling of betrayal by the front office’s handling of the trade, and also signals that many want a full reset: no remnants of past eras, including the coach who stood by as the deal went through.

In the wake of the Luka Doncic trade, Jason Kidd struck an oddly casual tone, calling the situation “kinda cool” and even comparing it to the historic- and controversial- Babe Ruth deal. He framed the move as part of the business side of basketball, stressing that trades are inevitable and that the team must adapt and keep pushing forward.

Kidd maintained a sense of optimism about the Mavericks’ future, expressing confidence that the team could still compete for a championship despite Doncic’s departure. He also acknowledged fans’ right to react however they felt —whether with boos or cheers —while emphasizing that the organization’s focus would remain on moving ahead. Certainly, the fans are letting their HC know.

Many didn’t bother with long explanations, with one user simply writing, “Fire Kidd too.” The fallout of the trade isn’t the only thing plaguing the Mavs.

This season has started off poorly for the team, with them recording the fifth-worst record in the league, along with the second-worst offensive rating, the worst three-point percentage, and a net rating in the bottom third. Though the roster is thin, Kidd’s usage of Cooper Flagg at point guard hasn’t helped, and now the fans are quickly turning on him.

One comment said, “Jason Kidd needs to go too!” The succinct, direct statements reflect a broader sense of exhaustion following a 2024 Finals run and the gradual disintegration of the roster, with little accountability from those at the top of the organization.

The criticism hasn’t been limited to just fans. Media voice Ashley Nicole Moss put it bluntly, “It’s very difficult to feel bad for Jason Kidd, for Nico Harrison, for anybody in that front office because this was a decision YOU made.”

Her words summed up the public mood in Dallas: a fanbase demanding answers from a head coach now facing louder calls to share the blame.