Mavs GM did not want to do closed-door meeting with reporters, ESPN reports

DALLAS — A new report claims Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison did not want to do the closed-door media roundtable that was organized Tuesday afternoon. Instead, ESPN's Shams Charania reports , it was Patrick Dumont's idea. Dumont is the governor and partial owner of the Mavericks, designated at the liaison between the organization and its majority owner Miriam Adelson.

"Nico Harrison did not want to do this closed-door roundtable," Charania said during ESPN's NBA Countdown. "This was not his idea. This was something that was enforced by their owner, Patrick Dumont.



" The news comes just one day after that roundtable, in which a select group of reporters were invited to ask Mavs GM Nico Harrison and CEO Rick Welts questions, mostly regarding the Luka Doncic trade and its tumultuous aftermath. No cameras were allowed in the discussion, and the Mavericks organization released an edited transcription of what was said . The news of the secluded session being an edict from Dumont is a far cry from the largely hands-off approach the governor has taken heretofore.

Dumont's lack of direct involvement in the Mavericks' day-to-day has been a monumental shift from that of previous majority owner Mark Cuban. Cuban served as head of basketball operations during his 23 years as the team's owner. The Adelson camp stripped Cuban of that title when they took over.

Dumont's move didn't involve basketball operations, but it had everything to do with public relations. Fan trust has been shattered since Luka was dealt to LA, leaving many to protest the franchise outright or silently boycott with their wallets. Dumont's reasoning behind the no-camera clause? Still unclear.

Regardless, we know what Harrison said. Much of it did not go down well with fans. The Mavs GM doubled down on the Doncic deal, saying he has "no regrets on the trade," and reiterated his guiding philosophy that "defense wins championships" several times.

You can read WFAA's breakdown of what Nico said here . You can read the Mavericks' edited transcription of the event here ..