According to reports, Cuban is set to name Nico Harrison, a longtime Nike executive, as his new general manager, and Jason Kidd, a former Mavericks star, as his new head coach.
When the time comes to pitch top free agents, Harrison will ensure the Mavs get a meeting—and serious consideration.
Kidd could be the perfect mentor to Luka Dončić, the Mavericks’ supremely gifted young point guard.
Harrison has never worked for an NBA team before.
“I would say in the last 10 to 15 years, owners have devalued the job of a GM or president of basketball ops.
Also, when the free agents don’t come, the GM still needs to know how to draft, make savvy trades and manage assets.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving picked Brooklyn because the Nets were competitive and located in a major market—not because they were charmed by Sean Marks.
A GM has to be versed in the salary cap, scouting, analytics, sports medicine, sports science and a dozen other things that have nothing to do with signing free agents.
Kidd does have experience, having coached the Nets for one season .
No, Harrison and Kidd are landing with the Mavericks because of their relationships with Cuban, which is fine and his prerogative.
“I think it’s going up because Adam and the league has made the push for it to go up,” said the longtime team executive, who is Black.
The Mavericks provide a rare case where a team owner hiring friends and close associates actually worked in favor of diversity, instead of stifling it.