A deal made in the shadows but heard around the world! The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade has taken the hoop community by storm. As expected, the Mavs front office and ownership have been under constant fire for letting go of a generational superstar like Luka. A boycott is in order as the fuming Dallas fans are planning protests outside American Airlines Center while the team prepares for its first home game since the shocking move. Obviously, there are security concerns and they could increase even more as an unseen image of Nico Harrison and Rob Pelinka plotting the blockbuster trade has emerged online.

Yes, a man named Asad Munir shared a photo with WFAA that shows both GMs having a discussion over coffee.

Turns out, the picture was clicked a month ago, on January 7—the same day Nico and Pelinka sparked the idea of the Luka-Davis trade at Ascension Coffee in the lobby of Uptown Dallas’ Hotel Crescent Court, as per veteran insiders Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon.

Obviously, Munir did not think much of that meeting at the time. In fact, he initially had no idea that the man with Pelinka was Nico Harrison. However, once everything transpired, he knew he needed to share the image with the world. “It was just a picture. There was no hoorah about it, but then the sequence of everything that happened and how it correlates–I was just like, ‘wow!’” he shared to WFAA.

According to WFAA, after reviewing Munir’s credit card statements and geotags in the metadata (location information embedded in the photo), they confirmed its authenticity. And per the metadata, the picture was taken sometime around noon.

Sure enough, this is not a good look for the Mavs GM and could increase problems for him.

As per MacMahon, Nico is already under a lot of scrutiny from angry fans, “This is a heartbroken fanbase and there have been very unfortunate developments regarding that anger. Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats.” Yes, one decision has made Nico the biggest villain in Dallas, even putting his life under threat.

Surprisingly, the GM is still optimistic about how his decision will eventually pan out.

Nico Harrison has faith fans’ “Frustration Will Go Away” as Mavs remain cautious amid security threat

With constant threat to the GM’s security, there will be strict measures taken by the Mavs to avoid any mishaps at tomorrow’s Rockets clash. “Security will absolutely be beefed up. Nico Harrison is not going to be in his normal seat in the stands. There is no reason to subject him to that kind of a security risk,” MacMahon revealed.

Although the anger is understandable, fans have truly crossed the line by threatening Nico’s life. But Harrison believes that once the Mavs start winning with Anthony Davis in the lineup, the fans will begin to calm down.

“I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organization. It’s going to make us better. We believe that it sets us up to win, not only now, but also in the future. And when we win, I believe the frustration will go away,” Harrison said, the hope and confidence clear in his words.

Well, AD does make the Dallas franchise a more all-around team with his versatile skillset and two-way presence. And maybe that’s what they needed to get over the hump in this year’s playoffs. Hopefully, that’s the case because the only thing that can make the fuming Mavericks fans happy again is a championship.

Do you think Nico’s decision gets them closer to that goal?