REPORT: Mavs GM Nico Harrison Favored for Executive of the Year—But for the Lakers?
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has emerged as the leading candidate for this year’s NBA Executive of the Year award—but not for his work with the Mavs. Instead, he’s being credited with turning the Los Angeles Lakers into legitimate title contenders.
While Harrison remains employed by the Mavericks, critics and analysts alike have pointed out that his trade decisions have seemingly benefited the Lakers more than Dallas. His most notable move came at the 2024 trade deadline when the Mavericks dealt promising young talent Josh Green and multiple draft assets to acquire P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. While those additions have helped stabilize Dallas’ frontcourt, Green has flourished in Los Angeles, emerging as a key two-way player alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The irony of Harrison’s potential Executive of the Year win is that his decisions, rather than clearly elevating the Mavericks to championship status, have inadvertently strengthened one of the West’s biggest threats. The Lakers, previously struggling with depth issues, now boast a rejuvenated roster, and their rise in the standings has been credited in part to former Mavs contributors.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks remain in the mix in the Western Conference playoff race, but their long-term outlook has been questioned. If Dallas falls short in the postseason while the Lakers make a deep run, the jokes about Harrison “winning the award for the wrong team” will only grow louder.
Ultimately, Executive of the Year is awarded based on regular-season moves that significantly improve a team’s fortunes. If the Lakers’ resurgence continues, some voters might ironically cast their ballots for Harrison—albeit with a smirk.
