Mavericks fans are living a nightmare, and Nico Harrison is the one who wrote the script. Trading Luka Doncic, a 25-year-old generational superstar, felt like a crime to almost everyone. People are angry, they are livid, and they are lashing out at Harrison. And even as he is the current villain in Dallas, Charles Barkley offers his support to him.

On a recent broadcast of Inside the NBA while ranking teams who’ll finish in the top 6, he said, “To me, the wild card of the Mavericks, like, first of all, let’s give Nico Harrison some credit.The trades he made last year, and obviously the Luka thing. He’s made some good trades. He made the Mavericks relevant last year. Everybody’s upset about the Luka thing, but if it wasn’t for the trades he made last year, the Mavs would not have made it to the finals.”

Last season, Harrison’s acquisitions of Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford gave the Mavericks a dominant interior presence. Lively’s rim protection and rebounding, combined with Gafford’s physicality in the paint, played a key role in stabilizing Dallas’ defense and helping them reach the Finals.

Things were different this year. In a twist of irony, the trade that sent Doncic away was offset by an exchange of Max Christie and veteran Anthony Davis—a 31-year-old All-NBA big with elite two-way talent and a championship under his belt. But Davis’s tenure with the Mavericks was marred by injury; he debuted with a setback and hasn’t been able to contribute since.

“But I’ll say this now, if the Mavs can tread water until A.D. and Gaff and Lively come back, nobody wants to see them boys,” Chuck added.

Yet, Barkley’s perspective diverges from the widespread pessimism. People are venting their frustrations on social media platforms like X and Reddit, criticizing the trade of Doncic as one of the worst front-office decisions in NBA history. Many argue that the move not only dismantled a generational talent but also damaged the franchise’s reputation, making Dallas a less attractive destination for free agents.

Barkley’s remarks came amid broader discussions about team-building in today’s NBA. He shifted focus later in the broadcast to the Los Angeles Lakers, whose recent blockbuster trade for Doncic has also drawn skepticism.

Top Comment by MichaelB1959

No, they have a lot of talent, One man doesn’t make a team

Share your take

Debate

Charles Barkley still doubts Lakers’ title hopes despite Luka Doncic trade

Charles Barkley remains unconvinced that the Lakers pose a real threat in the West, even after executing a blockbuster trade for Luka.

During Inside the NBA on Thursday, Barkley didn’t hold back. “I think they’re solid. I don’t think they’re a contender,” he said. “Listen, man, they were awful to start the season—they’ve been awful for the last two or three years, in fairness. Luka is an upgrade, but I still don’t think they are on the same level as the [Denver] Nuggets.”

He even crowned Oklahoma City as the best team in the conference and questioned if the Lakers were better than Memphis or Houston. Since adding Doncic, L.A. is 3-2, with back-to-back wins over Denver and Dallas. Luka didn’t put forth his best performance against his former team; he recorded his fourth triple-double but managed only 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

Luka once again had a tough night against the Timberwolves, struggling to find any rhythm on either end of the floor. He played 36 minutes but shot an ugly 6-of-20 from the field and just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Defensively, he had issues, and offensively, nothing seemed to fall. But the Lakers won (111-102) late in the game; he hit a massive shot that helped the Lakers stay ahead.

For Mavericks fans, the trade of Doncic is a bitter pill to swallow—one that casts a long shadow over the franchise’s future. But Barkley insists that if the team can endure the current injury setbacks and eventually reclaim their key players, they still have a chance to emerge as a serious playoff threat. As for the Lakers, their gamble on a marquee trade has yet to dispel lingering doubts about their ability to contend at the highest level.