Mavs' Nico Harrison Has 'No Regrets' About Luka Doncic Lakers Trade Despite Criticism

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison suggested Monday that he isn't having second thoughts about his decision to trade superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers back in February.

According to Briauna Brown of CBS News, Harrison had a private roundtable discussion with media members Monday, and he doubled down on his decision to make the controversial trade, saying: "There's no regrets on the trade. Part of it is doing the best thing for the Mavs."

ESPN's Tim MacMahon provided an additional breakdown of the close-door meeting, noting Harrison "quadrupled down" on the deal:

Harrison also said he plans to remain as the team's GM through at least the end of his contract, which has another three years on it.

The Mavericks and Lakers shook the foundation of the NBA two months ago when they shockingly agreed to a deal that sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to L.A. for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick.

Dončić is a 26-year-old five-time All-Star who finished third in the NBA MVP voting and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season.

All of those factors made the idea of trading him almost unthinkable, but Harrison stuck to his convictions and made the deal.

Early returns favor the Lakers, as Dončić helped L.A. finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference at 50-32, while Dallas barely qualified for the postseason play-in tournament at 39-43.

Of course, the Mavericks were on the wrong end of a barrage of injuries, as Davis missed multiple weeks immediately making his debut for the Mavs, and All-Star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending injury.

Provided the Mavericks are fully healthy next season, Harrison expressed his belief that they have a "championship team."

Harrison also spoke to the disgruntled nature of Mavs fans, who have often chanted "fire Nico" at home games since the trade was made.

He acknowledged the unhappiness while also suggesting that there is plenty of time to change the narrative, saying: "We hear them. It's on us to win back their trust. This story is unfinished. We understand the pain."

The fanbase's anger was amplified last week when Dončić returned to Dallas as a visitor for the first time and dropped 45 points in a 112-97 Lakers win.

After joining the Lakers, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, showing why he has long been considered one of the best all-around players in the NBA.

Harrison admitted that Dončić is talented, but he still insisted that trading him "was the best decision going forward."

Additional time is needed to know for sure if Harrison made a franchise-altering mistake, but if Dončić helps LeBron James and the Lakers win a championship this season, it may be impossible for the Mavs to change that viewpoint.