Doncic Trade Has 'Shocked' Donnie Trashing Mavs GM Nico for No 'Decent Funeral'
Donnie Nelson was the architect of the best Dallas Mavericks rosters in franchise history during his reign as general manager and director of basketball operations from 1998-2021. His resume is bookended by bringing two of the franchise's best players to Dallas: Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic.
Advertisement
Nelson was with Dallas for the entirety of Nowitzki's career, but his time came to an end early into Doncic's, mutually parting ways with the Mavericks before Nico Harrison was hired as his replacement.
Harrison struck the sports world and Mavs fanbase ablaze a couple years into his job when he traded the new franchise icon in Doncic. Even worse than the ridiculousness of the trade and its return was Harrison and the Mavericks' handling of the situation, often referencing Doncic in a demeaning tone and making countless questionable media and press decisions amid the scrutiny.
Like many fans, Nelson was not pleased. Not just with The Trade to begin with, but with the manner in which Harrison and the team tried to put out the fire in the aftermath.
Nelson didn't hold back his thoughts when discussing the situation with Slovenian news outlet Ekipa 24. He has recently been hired as a special advisor to the Slovenian national team, reuniting with Slovenia's finest Doncic in pursuit of Olympic qualification in 2028.
Advertisement
The former Mavericks exec couldn't help but compare Doncic's career with that of Nowitzki's, ripping the Mavs for their disrespect to a franchise great.
'We were with Dirk Nowitzki for 21 years, and the last three years were out of pure respect," Nelly said about Nowitzki's twilight before official retirement. "People like that deserve to say goodbye on their own terms and according to their wishes, and everyone deserves a decent funeral, figurative or literal.'
Harrison did not give Doncic that treatment whatsoever, breaking the news on a Friday night that had actually been in the works long before Luka willed the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Nelson poignantly had a one-word response to the trade itself: "shocked".
Advertisement
And further ... "still shocked".
"You have to understand that some players are different, special, and even more important to the environment and the community. It's important to treat those players with respect," Nelson added.
Donnie also stated that this situation simply "wouldn't have happened" under his watch.
So much of the "loyalty" energy that flowed through Mavericks organization during Dirk's tenure had evaporated in the waning moments of Luka's ... and that emptiness still remains.
However, Harrison has had a guardian angel in the form of a ping-pong ball that won Dallas the lottery and awarded the No. 1 overall draft pick with the right to add star phenom Cooper Flagg to the roster.
Advertisement
Harrison surely has learned from these mistakes, whether he's listened to Nelson and the fans' harsh criticism or not. Nico has stated that Flagg is a generational, "once-in-a-lifetime" player ... but as Nelson might agree...
We've already seen how he handled one of those.
Related: Mavs' Official Summer League Roster and Schedule Announced
Related: Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson International Reunion Announced
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
20 minutes ago
- New York Post
Mike Brown brings ‘championship pedigree' to Knicks as head coach's hire made official
Mike Brown is officially in the fold, and not a minute too soon. The Knicks announced the hiring of their new coach on Monday, ahead of Tuesday's introductory press conference. Advertisement 'After a thorough and extensive search process, we are pleased to announce Mike Brown as the head coach of the New York Knicks,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. 'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization. His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.' The 55-year-old inked a four-year deal worth $40 million according to SNY, stepping into the void left by Tom Thibodeau's shocking firing after the Knicks failed to get past the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Brown, a two-time Coach of the Year, was fired midseason by the Kings — six months after Sacramento gave him a contract extension. Advertisement Mike Brown coaches the Kings during as 2024 games against the Knicks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post He quickly became one of the top candidates to replace Thibodeau, with the Knicks connected to — but seemingly unable to lure — current NBA coaches Jason Kidd (Mavericks), Ime Udoka (Rockets), Billy Donovan (Bulls) and others. 'I would like to welcome Mike Brown to New York and the Knicks organization,' owner James Dolan said in a release. 'Leon and our staff ran a thorough and thoughtful process that led our organization to Mike, and I'm pleased to see him on the sideline for us next season.' Advertisement The Knicks become the fourth team helmed by Brown in his two-plus decades on NBA staffs after stints with the Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings. He brings a 454-304 career mark, with a 50-40 postseason record. Knicks brass apparently have faith he can better the 2005-06 Eastern Conference championship he captured with Cleveland before getting swept by the Spurs in the NBA Finals. Kings head coach Mike Brown reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans. AP That's further than Thibodeau was able to lead the Knicks in five years, despite bringing the team to the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the Garden.
USA Today
20 minutes ago
- USA Today
Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton have been 'motivated' to play together
A recent report detailed how troubling new Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton's behavior was during the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Between that poor attitude and his disappointing defense, plenty of people aren't too bullish on his prospects with the Purple and Gold. But there are others who feel he will help the team and possibly even be more motivated to play his best basketball than he has been in a while. In particular, Luka Doncic should be able to exploit Ayton's ability to convert lob passes into easy baskets, run the floor in transition and be a pick-and-pop threat out to about 15 feet. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Ayton and Doncic were "motivated to team up" on the same team (h/t Lakers Daily). 'Ayton and Luka Dončić have been pals since they were selected No. 1 overall and No. 3, respectively, in the 2018 NBA Draft,' Stein wrote. 'The prospect of the pair becoming teammates first materialized five years later when the [Dallas] Mavericks entered into advanced trade talks with Phoenix to acquire Ayton in conjunction with the 2023 NBA Draft. Yet those talks ultimately collapsed. '... The Bahamian big man asked the [Portland] Trail Blazers to buy out the final season of his contract and he committed Wednesday to teaming up with the Slovenian star after clearing waivers. 'The players share an agent — WME Sports' head of basketball Bill Duffy — and were motivated to team up given the Lakers' well-chronicled need for a front-line center.' In his seven seasons in the NBA, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game and made 59% of his shot attempts. While he isn't a consistent rim protector or shot-blocker, he does have the physical tools to become one, as he has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and clocked in with a 43.5-inch vertical leap during his college career. Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks, who was an assistant with Portland during Ayton's first season there, reportedly advocated for the signing of the 26-year-old, which seems to be an encouraging sign.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Magic make contract decisions on 2 key bench players
The post Magic make contract decisions on 2 key bench players appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Orlando Magic have a lot to consider during the 2025 NBA free agency window. In preparation for the process, the Magic opted to decline team options on center Moritz 'Moe' Wagner and Caleb Houstan. Advertisement While Wagner and Houstan will become unrestricted free agents, Orlando retains their Bird rights and can potentially re-sign them, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Wagner would have been owed $11 million in 2025-2026, with Houstan's option worth $2 million. Wagner, the older brother of Magic star Franz Wagner, averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game in 2024-2025, making his move somewhat of a surprise. However, his season was cut short by a torn ACL after just 30 games, putting his future in limbo. Houstan, a 2022 second-round pick, has never made the same impact in his three years with the team. Houstan has appeared in 168 total games for Orlando, averaging just 4.1 points per outing. While he did shoot a career-high 40.1 percent from deep in 2024-2025, Houstan reached double figures just eight times all year. Both Moe Wagner and Houstan came out of Michigan, but never overlapped in Ann Arbor. Wagner declared for the 2018 NBA Draft after three years with the Wolverines, four years before Houstan went one-and-done in 2021-2022. Advertisement Magic enter NBA free agency with internal focus Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images Even without Wagner and Houstan's contracts on their books, the Magic do not have much flexibility in free agency. Orlando went all-in on the Desmond Bane trade with the Memphis Grizzlies before seemingly shifting its focus internally. The Magic now have nine players under contract for the 2025-2026 season, not including recent draft picks Jase Richardson and Noah Penda. Orlando's biggest concern will be extending All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who will enter the final year of his rookie deal in the fall. After a three-year playoff drought, the Magic have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. However, they have not gotten past the first round in either year and have yet to get over the hump. The Bane deal certainly shifts their outlook. With long-term injuries to stars Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, the Eastern Conference is wide open in 2025-2026, something Orlando clearly intends to exploit. Related: NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane's ex-Grizzlies teammate Related: NBA rumors: Ty Jerome suitors lining up amid expected Cavs exit
