Imagine being in Nico Harrison’s shoes. You’re making the boldest call of your career by trading away your franchise’s biggest star, and doing it without even looping in your own head coach. Yep, that’s exactly what Harrison revealed in a recent press conference. Jason Kidd had no clue. Why? Because, as Harrison explained, keeping it between him and Rob Pelinka was the only way to avoid the Mavericks’ internal drama spilling into the public eye.

But let’s be real. When you take that kind of risk alone, the pressure to prove you were right doesn’t just double, it explodes. And if that wasn’t enough, Kyrie Irving going down with a season-ending injury only tightened the noose. But then came Dwyane Wade with a dose of hope.

During a recent episode of his podcast, the Miami Heat legend turned his attention to Anthony Davis. Fresh off a rest game against the Grizzlies, AD made his presence felt with a 27-point statement against the Kings. “Anthony Davis is back…” Wade declared on his podcast. And honestly, that line must’ve felt like a deep breath for Mavs fans. Chris Johnson also pointed out Derek Lively’s return, something Dallas desperately needed. Still, Wade wasn’t done.

He shifted the conversation toward Dallas’ current situation. And if you’re Nico Harrison listening in, this next part probably hit home. Wade acknowledged how most people saw the Dallas Mavericks as a team that’d be ready to contend seriously for the championship in the next 3-5 years. But then he dropped something that might just flip that narrative.

“Well, in a season that could have been looked at as a loss and a throwaway, you actually can save it a little bit. But what you do right now, they got, they got Sacramento. Sacramento is a team that, you know, obviously, they get it going. They tough, but this is a team that you can possibly beat.”

That alone could’ve given Harrison some hope, but the timing made it even sweeter. He’d recently said in a press conference, via D Magazine, “I do believe that once we win, the fans will come back.” And guess what? Dallas did win big against the Kings, proving D-Wade’s assumption right. And as if the Miami Heat icon’s words weren’t enough, Anthony Davis’ attitude after that victory served as one more green flag for Harrison. Things might finally be looking up.

Anthony Davis’ trash talk to the Kings could be a good sign for Nico Harrison’s aspirations with AD

Davis hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride this season. From being caught off guard by a mid-season trade to dealing with an injury that kept him off the court for a good chunk of time, it’s been anything but easy. But if you thought all that would dull his competitive fire, fans in Sacramento would likely tell you otherwise.

On Wednesday night, Davis showed up big for the Dallas Mavericks in a 120-106 play-in victory over the Kings. And just when the win seemed sealed, with about a minute left on the clock and Dallas comfortably ahead by 19, Davis had a little message for some courtside hecklers. “Y’all might want to beat that traffic, though,” Davis said to fans, in a moment that quickly made the rounds via SportsCenter.

Davis backed his words with a strong performance. AD, playing his first play-in game as a Maverick, nearly posted a double-double with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Sure, Sacramento tried to slow him down early by crowding him with defenders. But once he found his rhythm, there wasn’t much they could do. For Davis, this was about rewriting his narrative. From being questioned in L.A. to becoming the cornerstone of a franchise still mourning Luka, this was personal

It’s too early to call this trade a win. But Anthony Davis just gave the Mavericks something they’ve lacked since Luka left—belief. If that continues, Nico Harrison’s risk won’t just be justified. It’ll be historic. So it’s not just Dwyane Wade’s faith, but Anthony Davis delivering on it, too, that could turn Nico’s hope that “fans will come back” true.