Nico Harrison’s decision to trade Luka Doncic sparked heavy criticism throughout the NBA world. Many labeled it as one of the worst front office moves in recent league history, a sentiment that continues to linger among analysts and fans.
But the 2025-26 season might completely flip that narrative. Former Maverick Chandler Parsons recently emerged as a vocal supporter of Harrison’s vision for the franchise’s future.
The primary reason for optimism centers around Dallas’ surprising draft position. With the Mavericks likely to land generational talent Cooper Flagg, the team’s trajectory could shift dramatically upward in the coming season.
However, Parsons believes there’s more to the equation than just the draft pick. The current roster construction provides a balanced attack with legitimate two-way players at every position, creating championship-level potential that few expected after the Luka Doncic departure.
Their current squad boasts star-caliber talents in the starting lineup like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving when healthy, while maintaining impressive depth with developing big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II coming off the bench.
“I mean look at the Dallas Mavericks possible starting five when Kyrie Irving is going to be back.
“You got Kyrie Irving at the one, Klay Thompson at the two, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, and Anthony Davis,” Parsons explained on Run It Back.
“Then they have the bigs come off the bench with Lively and Gafford. They have some guards off the bench.
“They have Max Christie that came in the trade. That’s a valuable asset,” Parsons continued, highlighting the roster’s balance.
This combination of star power, depth, and positional versatility has Parsons bullish on the Mavericks’ chances once they reach full strength and even look better than current Doncic team, the Lakers.
“As soon as Kyrie is back, I’m so excited to see this team fully loaded.
“Because think about those names, they’re experienced, they’re all different positions, they’re all two-way players and that is what Nico wanted,” Parsons added, emphasizing Harrison’s strategic approach to team building.
For Harrison’s plan to succeed, Dallas must create an environment where Flagg can develop his immense potential while showing patience during Irving’s injury recovery.
If both elements align, the Mavericks could silence critics and validate what initially appeared to be an unthinkable gamble when they first traded away their franchise cornerstone.
The upcoming season will be the ultimate test of Harrison’s vision, but for the first time since the controversial trade, there’s legitimate reason for optimism in Dallas.
