Mavs GM Nico Harrison Sets High Expectations for Luka Doncic & Team
Dallas’ Determination:
Dallas Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison has maintained a vision of stability and improvement for the upcoming season, underscoring the importance of having the current team roster persist with enhancements. Following a striking season led by superstar Luka Doncic, Harrison emphasises his expectation that all players, including Doncic, enhance their performance by 10 to 15%. Doncic’s recent historic achievement of leading in points, rebounds, assists, and steals through the postseason spotlight his pivotal role in the team’s success.
Doncic’s Resilience & Growth:
Acknowledging the intense scrutiny after a tough loss to the Celtics, Harrison commends Doncic’s resilience and exemplary character, demonstrated by his astonishing comeback in the succeeding game. At only 25, and fresh off a grueling postseason and a challenging NBA Finals appearance, Doncic’s continued development is deemed imperative. Despite battling various injuries, Doncic’s commitment to play through pain has not gone unnoticed, displaying an unwavering warrior spirit and raising anticipation for his performance in the Olympic qualifying tournament for Slovenia.
Strategic Roster Enhancements:
In line with retaining the team’s core, Harrison has proactively reinforced the Mavericks’ lineup, enlisting All-Rookie center Dereck Lively II and securing players like P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline. There’s mutual interest in retaining Derrick Jones Jr., whose future with the team is subject to salary cap negotiations. As Harrison eyes the improvement of the team’s "top seven or eight" players, the pursuit of roster upgrades through all available avenues remains a clear focus.