Nico Harrison made a deliberate choice early in the Dallas Mavericks’ negotiations involving Luka Doncic: rather than adopting an open-ended approach, he aimed to pinpoint a specific trade target and concentrate solely on that deal, according to sources at ESPN.
This strategy was intended to minimize the possibility of Doncic and his agent, Bill Duffy, exerting influence over the situation while also helping the franchise avoid potential backlash from fans.
Harrison’s sights were set on Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers, a decision that aligned him with Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka.
The two share a professional history that stretches back to 2003 when they were both up-and-coming executives with connections to Kobe Bryant.
After leaving his long-term agent Arn Tellem in 2002, Bryant persuaded Pelinka, then a rising figure at SFX, to follow him. Meanwhile, Harrison, working as a junior executive at Nike, was responsible for recruiting Bryant.
Their mutual connection to Bryant forged a close relationship. Over the years, Harrison and Pelinka accompanied Bryant on global Nike tours and even bonded through family vacations.
As trusted members of Bryant’s inner circle, they leaned on one another for support following his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Nico Harrison Operated In Stealth To Avoid Luka Doncic's Potential Influence, Fan Backlash https://t.co/mAJZRyRA0d
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 3, 2025
