Mark Cuban’s Secret Power Play: Inside the Mavericks’ Shocking ‘GM by Committee’ Shakeup Amid Nico Harrison Fallout

The Dallas Mavericks are undeniably entrenched in one heck of a storm this season — and believe me, it’s shaking the very core of the franchise. After parting ways with Luka Dončić, arguably the most electrifying talent in the league, the Mavs have wrestled with fallout that’s reverberated far beyond the hardwood. Missing the playoffs this year after a thrilling NBA Finals run last season? That’s not just a stumble; it’s a sign of deep turbulence. Add to that a 4-11 start to the 2025-26 campaign, and the decision to part ways with general manager Nico Harrison — the architect behind the controversial Dončić trade — it’s clear the organization is navigating some serious internal quake. Behind closed doors, tensions have bubbled up between Harrison, minority owner Mark Cuban, and majority owner Patrick Dumont, creating a power dynamic that’s as complex as a championship play. Mark Cuban, once the commanding voice of the Mavs, now finds himself in a consultant role, yet he’s back pushing for change—and it spells a whole new chapter for Dallas. The road ahead? A rebuild centered around young talent like Cooper Flagg, signaling that everything crafted under Harrison’s watch might be up for a fresh makeover. Buckle up—this saga is far from over. LEARN MORE

It’s probably not news to any NBA fans that the Dallas Mavericks are experiencing some turbulence right now.

In 2025 alone, the franchise has traded away superstar Luka Dončić, spent months defending the decision, missed the playoffs after reaching the NBA Finals a year earlier, begun the 2025-26 season with a 4-11 record and, finally, fired general manager Nico Harrison, the man who pushed for the Dončić decision that has become perhaps the most criticized trade in the history of basketball.

And that’s just in the public sphere.

In private, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, there had been a push-and-pull between Harrison and minority owner Mark Cuban, with majority owner Patrick Dumont in the middle.

At one point, Cuban — who sold his majority stake in 2023 but claimed he would still oversee basketball decisions — was sidelined to the point that he learned about the Dončić trade at the same time as fans. As of last week, however, he was back in the circle of trust — and reportedly pushing for Dumont to fire the executive he himself hired in 2021.

Per ESPN, Cuban spent the summer criticizing Harrison’s roster construction with Dumont, flagging the roster’s lack of off-dribble creators and shooting. The team now ranks as the second-worst offense in the NBA by offensive rating, between the Washington Wizards and Tyrese Haliburton-less Indiana Pacers. The team’s lack of guard depth has been glaring this season, to the point that 18-year-old Cooper Flagg had to make his NBA debut out of position as the team’s starting point guard.

With Harrison out, Dumont has reportedly gone with a “GM by committee” approach that involves interim co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi (previously Harrison’s assistant general managers), head coach Jason Kidd and, of course, Cuban.

It’s an arrangement that Cuban is happy with, per ESPN, even if he still doesn’t have the control he once held:

“He’s walking around on air right now,” a team source said. “Cuban’s floating in his Skechers.”

But Cuban isn’t returning to his shot-caller status within the Mavs. Nor will he ever. As one source put it, Cuban sold that right.

“He’s a consultant, not a decision-maker,” another source said. “But he’s at the table.”

Cuban is on the record multiple times as critical of the Dončić trade, both for the basic decision of letting go the star he had installed as majority owner and for the shadowy process Harrison conducted the maneuver. In order to risk leaks — namely Dončić or Cuban finding out and trying to kill the deal — Harrison zeroed in on the Los Angeles Lakers as his trade partner and ultimately received only the oft-injured Anthony Davis, young guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Nico Harrison had taken full control of Mavericks’ basketball decisions from Mark Cuban

Harrison being able to swing the deal reflects the full trust Dumont had in him at the time. Per ESPN, he took credit for the Mavericks’ Finals run in 2024, partially made possible by key trade deadline deals for Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, while also criticizing the team’s five-game loss to the Boston Celtics on Doncic’s defensive struggles.

Ultimately, Harrison got the relationship to the point where the only person he had to keep happy was Dumont:

“Nico did a hell of a sales job,” a Mavs official said. “He took credit for everything that was done. When Patrick asked questions — asked how we got Kyrie, how the draft happened, etc. — [Harrison] said he was the guy. We got on a roll and went to the Finals. Fool’s gold.”

Dumont would occasionally ask Harrison to “keep Mark in the fold” regarding personnel discussions and decisions, sources said. Harrison would agree to do so before blowing it off. The contact at this point between Cuban and Dumont was minimal, given the team’s success. Cuban and Harrison rarely spoke to each other.

“Nico built the moat and put up the fence and said, ‘I got this!'” one source familiar with the dynamic between Harrison and Dumont said. “Clearly, that was the wrong strategy.”

Harrison’s concerns about Dončić as the Mavericks’ long-term franchise star were no secret. He repeatedly threw out the cliché “Defense wins championships” while justifying a swap of Dončić for Davis and reportedly clashed with the Dončić camp over the recovery timeline of a calf strain.

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 11: Former Dallas Mavericks governor Mark Cuban reacts after Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 11, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images) — Mark Cuban has made it very clear he would have never traded Luka Dončić. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

(Tim Heitman via Getty Images)

Per ESPN, Harrison believed a five-year, $345 million supermax contract, which Dončić was about to be eligible for, would be an awful investment and said as much to Dumont, while pointing to conditioning concerns, poor off-court habits and recurring calf strains. He reportedly used Dončić’s hesitance to return from a calf strain as proof that he wasn’t fully committed to Dallas.

Meanwhile, Cuban reportedly chafed at his lack of control. Per ESPN, he privately claimed he only hired Harrison, previously a Nike executive with no front office experience, due to his relationships with players and agents, never planning for Harrison to actually be the decision-maker. After the sale, Harrison reportedly saw Cuban as an unnecessary voice in the room and convinced Dumont to let him take over.

And now, it’s Cuban back in the saddle as Dallas pivots to focusing on building around Flagg, which likely means tearing down everything Harrison built, possibly starting with a trade of Davis.