The Dallas Mavericks’ season ended abruptly in the Play-In Tournament, shifting focus to offseason changes. But behind the scenes, a front office blunder nearly derailed rookie center Dereck Lively II’s career.
GM Nico Harrison’s controversial decision to fire longtime trainer Casey Smith in 2023 – reportedly via video call while Smith visited his ill mother – set the stage for disaster. Harrison replaced him with Johann Bilsborough and unqualified assistant Keith Belton, despite Belton lacking NBA-level credentials.
The consequences became terrifyingly clear in January when Lively II suffered what was initially diagnosed as a routine ankle sprain. Under Belton’s supervision, the rookie nearly returned to play before a last-minute CT scan revealed a stress fracture – not a sprain. Had Lively II played on the fracture, it could have been career-altering.
The near-disaster exposes Harrison’s flawed leadership. Smith, now with the Knicks, has helped make them one of the NBA’s healthiest teams – a stark contrast to Dallas’ training staff turmoil. With Harrison’s judgment repeatedly under fire, the Mavericks must decide if he’s the right executive to guide their future.
Leave a Reply