Photo: Peter Baba

As the Mavericks continue to navigate the fallout from the Luka Doncic trade, reporting from Christian Clark and Dan Woike of The Athletic shows that the organization is also taking a cautious approach to reshaping its front office.

According to the authors, Dallas has begun the process of vetting candidates to replace Nico Harrison permanently, though a hire is not expected until at least the spring.

That deliberate pace reflects lessons learned from the previous regime.

When Harrison was hired in 2021, he arrived from Nike with no prior experience running an NBA team, a factor that has drawn scrutiny in hindsight given the franchise-altering decision to move Doncic.

This time, the Mavericks are expected to prioritize stability and familiarity with league operations.

“(They) are going to over-index on the safety aspect of it,” a league source told The Athletic.

The front-office reset comes alongside continued debate over the rationale behind trading Doncic, with Dallas sources citing conditioning and durability concerns while those close to the star strongly dispute that narrative.

As the Lakers slowly reshape their roster around Doncic, the Mavericks are now facing a parallel rebuilding process of their own – one that appears focused on minimizing risk after a period of upheaval.