NBA Exec Reportedly Hopes Mavs' Harrison Stays, Says It's Good to Have 'Desperate' GM

At least one NBA executive believes it would be beneficial for Nico Harrison to keep his job as Dallas Mavericks general manager entering next season.

Speaking Wednesday on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 25:03 mark), ESPN NBA insider Tim MacMahon discussed Harrison's job security and the fact that an anonymous NBA exec hopes Harrison isn't fired:

"And I was talking to an executive today and listen, everybody asks me about Nico's job security all the time. And all I can say is to this point, [Mavs owner] Patrick Dumont has given him strong public support. I think this press conference could be considered proof that Patrick Dumont has some significant concerns.

"But this executive is saying, 'Man, I hope he makes another transaction cycle. It's always good to have a desperate GM out there.'"

Harrison has been under fire since February when he made the shocking decision to trade superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package that included Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

The trade came from out of nowhere, as there wasn't so much as a whisper out there regarding the Mavs' desire to trade Dončić.

Just last season, Dončić finished third in the NBA MVP voting and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, further establishing himself as one of the top players in the league.

Despite that, Harrison sent the 26-year-old star to L.A., and he has thrived as a member of the Lakers alongside LeBron James.

In 28 games with the Lakers following the trade, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per contest, and he helped Los Angeles secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record.

Meanwhile, Davis missed weeks of action after getting injured in his first game with the Mavs, and Dallas also lost All-Star guard Kyrie Irving for the remainder of the season.

Even so, the Mavericks managed to hang in there and seize a spot in the postseason play-in tournament with a 39-43 record.

On Monday, Harrison addressed the media as part of a private roundtable discussion, and per Briauna Brown of CBS News, he told reporters he had "no regrets" about the Dončić trade since he felt it was "the best thing for the Mavs."

In Dončić's return to Dallas for the first time as a visitor this month, he dropped 45 points in a Lakers win, as the fans showed their appreciation for him and chanted, "Fire Nico."

Regardless of whether Dumont believes in Harrison, there is clearly pressure on the GM to quickly get the Mavericks back on the right path so that the narrative surrounding the Dončić trade changes.

Pressure can lead to desperate decisions at times, and there is little doubt that other NBA general managers would love to take advantage of that should Harrison decide to make a panic move.