"Nico Harrison did this to his organization" - NBA fans react to Mavericks game pulled from national TV in favor of Cavaliers

Dallas Mavericks fans have had it rough since they traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis on February 2nd. Davis went down with an adductor strain during his first game as a Maverick and All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL on Monday. Now, fans around the NBA are reacting to the news that their team is losing out on a nationally televised game.

News broke on Thursday that instead of airing a matchup between the Mavericks and 76ers, slated for 1 pm on Sunday, March 16th, the ABC network has decided to broadcast a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. Networks often make such changes to air more competitive and meaningful games as the postseason approaches.

NBA fans, both for the Mavericks and against, reacted to the news on X. Some fans are angry that Dallas is being taken off of the national TV schedule, while others aren't surprised, saying that the team isn't worth watching anymore. One fan even called out general manager Nico Harrison, the main person behind the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

"That’s because nobody wants to watch that garbage," said one fan about the poor matchup.

"yeah I mean Mavericks and Sixers are the poorest teams in their conference. Sixers are The Mavericks of the east andhthe Mavericks are the sixers of the west 😭 the two biggest disappointments of the conferences," commented another.

"they scheduled luka vs embiid not empty bench vs empty bench," a fan joked, pointing out the lack of stars.

"NBA choosing Cavs over a 6 player Mavs team," one fan speculated.

"That’s totally fair lol… Painful what’s happened to the Sixers and mavs," said one sympathetic fan.

How do the Mavericks bounce back after their tough injury luck?

After losing both Anthony Davis and Kryie Irving to injuries, with the latter definitely out for the rest of the season, the Mavericks need to pivot and focus on next season. Nico Harrison told fans that the trade sending Doncic to Los Angeles was made to keep the team competitive now, but Dallas' chances at a deep playoff run have gone from slim to almost none.

Looking ahead, Dallas is better off worrying about their offseason and getting everyone back healthy. Davis should be ready to rejoin the team at the beginning of the 2025 regular season, along with Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively. However, Irving will be out for almost a full calendar year. If the Mavericks decide to throw in the towel on their season, they still have an outside chance of securing a top pick.

This summer's free agency is crucial for a Dallas team with aging stars looking to capitalize on a two or three-year window. Kevin Durant has already been attached to them as a player they could trade for, which would put together a formidable trio in the Western Conference. While Dallas might be struggling now, if they play their cards right, they'll find themselves right back in contention.