Mavericks Delay GM Hire After Luka Doncic Trade

Merlin sees the Mavericks still hunting for Nico Harrison’s replacement. Dallas has started vetting candidates but does not expect to hire a new lead executive until spring at the earliest, wanting to "choose from the widest possible pool of candidates." The team says it has "no interest" in another outsider and will "[over-index] on the safety aspect of it." After a tenure marked by the controversial Luka Dončić trade, the Mavs have slipped to 19-26 and 12th in the West while Dončić excels in Los Angeles. Merlin senses Dallas will act cautiously, likely avoiding major roster firesales until a permanent GM is in place or the offseason forces a clearer direction.