The Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, a decision that could have implications for the Bucks. Harrison lost his job after trading superstar and consensus top-five talent Luka Dončić last season. Seeing this, Milwaukee Bucks GM John Horst will likely think twice before considering a premature trade involving his own superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst address the media after head coach Adrian Griffin (not pictured) was dismissed at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Harrison’s axing delivered a clear warning to every NBA general manager that trading a franchise superstar can ruin a career if it doesn’t produce instant results. After moving Luka Dončić, Harrison lasted only nine months before being let go. That is far too short a period to rebuild, prove a new direction, or fully evaluate what was gained in return.
Whether fans realize it or not, Jon Horst’s legacy is closely tied to Giannis. Horst built the first team that Giannis led to a championship. Across different eras of Bucks basketball, from Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton to Damian Lillard and now Myles Turner, the only constants have been Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks GM.
Jon Horst and Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks
Feb 12, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; NBA All-Star participants Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0), guard Malik Beasley (5), and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) pose for a picture with general manager Jon Horst (far left) and team president Peter Feigin (far right) before a game against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Horst’s job depends entirely on Giannis Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee. The instant Giannis gets traded, Horst’s tenure is in jeopardy, no matter what the team receives in return. General managers succeed or fail based on their superstars. It is an uncomfortable reality few will admit, but Harrison’s firing proves it. Trading a top-five player only works if the return immediately produces championships, and even then, your position remains fragile.
The Bucks general manager already captured a title with Giannis. He has constructed multiple contending rosters around him. His entire tenure revolves around maximizing the Greek Freak’s prime years. Trading Giannis would not only reset the franchise but also wipe out Horst’s legacy and usher in a new era that likely excludes him.
Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst address the media after head coach Adrian Griffin (not pictured) was dismissed at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Harrison’s firing serves as a stark warning to every executive in the league. Your superstar is your safety net. Move them, and you better have another position ready, because your current job will not survive. Horst is not trading Giannis. Not only would it harm Milwaukee, but it would also destroy his career. Harrison’s fate proved that lesson clearly.