SIMMONS: The education of Raptors head coach Nick Nurse

Nico Harrison wanted Luka Doncic to travel with the Dallas Mavericks during a five-game, 10-day road trip in late January as he continued his rehabilitation from a calf strain. Doncic had believed he had suffered the calf strain on Christmas because he returned too soon from a previous injury. Doncic’s camp also believed plane rides could create a possible setback and that he could maximize his workouts remaining in Dallas.

Sources tell The Athletic that the decision from Doncic frustrated team executives with the Mavericks.

Nico Harrison already had doubts about the Mavericks investing in Doncic long-term with a five-year, $345 million supermax extension during the 2025 offseason. Sources say that the decision by Doncic to skip the trip reiterated in Harrison’s mind that the Mavericks would be better off without him.

While the Mavericks didn’t trade Doncic simply because he chose not to go on the trip, Harrison did choose to continue his trade conversations with Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers. Harrison recommended to Patrick Dumont that the Mavericks move forward with the trade and Dumont agreed to it.

“I don’t know how many teams saw the same thing that Nico saw,” a league source not involved in the trade discussions said. “And then, the other pieces, the PJ Washingtons, that he put together. And they go to the fricking finals, right? So, I don’t know what you (Dumont) think of your general manager in your few month’s experience with him. But you probably think that he’s got a gift, that he’s good at this.”