Ranking of managerial horrors in the NBA

The dismissal of Nico Harrison in the Mavericks, with the transfer of Luka Doncic as the main conflict, reminded us of a series of blunders in NBA history.

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He dismissal of Nico Harrison as general manager of Dallas Mavericks confirmed what the world suspected back in February: the decision of the Texas franchise to transfer Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers It was one of the worst moves of all time.

Now, how does this move rate compared to other failed decisions in history? We then present the ranking of managerial horrors in the NBA.

Here we go.

Philadelphia decided, words more, words less, to pay for elite nursing. It’s a truly disastrous move: George, 34, came from the Clippers for four years and 211.6 million dollars. He is coming off the worst season of his career and is not playing due to injury.

Embiid was renewed despite dragging -literally- his knee (he played only 19 games last year), for three years and 187.6 million. Its extension will be launched in a year.

The worst thing about this decision is not in the present: it compromises the future.

9. The Pistons pick Darko Milicic with the 2nd pick

The Class of 2003 was one of the best in NBA history. Let us remember that, in that Draft, they were, among others LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Three of these players (D-Wade, Bosh and LeBron) gave multiple championships to Miami Heat after The James Decision.

The Pistons gave Melo a thumbs down at the No. 2 spot because they supposedly “already had the small forward position covered.” And they went for Milicic, who clearly was not for basketball history Nikola Jokic: In three seasons in Detroit he averaged something like 1.5 points and less than a rebound per game. Oh, and he played 96 games out of a possible 246. A nightmare.

8. Bucks trade Dirk Nowitzki in draft

On draft night in 1998, Milwaukee’s leaders thought they were doing something brilliant. However, they caused sleepless nights in the city and surrounding areas.

The Bucks picked at number nine Nowitzki, but they made an exchange of rights with the Mavericks, who had position six. For this reason, the Bucks acquired the services of Robert ‘Tractor’ Taylor and the Mavericks kept Dirk.

Taylor averaged fewer than five points and four rebounds per game in his career and Nowitzki led Dallas to the 2011 title while also being one of the greatest players in NBA history.

7. Nets send Julius Erving to Sixers

Moment: Did this really happen? Yes, and it was in exchange for three million dollars. They were other times, the story was different, but the Dr. J, the Afro genius who inspired other generations to fly, gave the Sixers a title and had 11 All-Star appearances.

True, this came almost immediately after the ABA merged with the NBA and the Nets needed money. But decisions are decisions and in this ranking we cannot ignore it.

6. Bucks trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Lakers

Things as they are: Milwaukee did what they could but Kareem pushed to go to the Lakers, after winning a title and three MVPs. The result of the trade left the Bucks like scorched earth.

Kareem, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer until he was dethroned by LeBron James in 2024, was traded for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman.

It was a horrible move but without blame, because the Bucks were tied hand and foot. No firepower to get anything better. The truth is that the Lakers with Abdul-Jabbar, paired with Magic Johnson, won five championships and the Bucks did not smile again until Giannis Antetokounmpo broke a half-century drought without great joy.

5. Warriors trade Wilt Chamberlain to Sixers

In January 1965, one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the Warriors occurred. Golden State traded the record man for Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann and Lee Shaffer.

A disastrous transfer, because the three men the Warriors obtained ended up being three unknowns and Chamberlain, during his stay in Philly, won three MVPs in a row and a title in 1967.

4. Hornets trade Kobe Bryant in the draft

The Hornets selected Bryant 13th overall in the 1996 draft in exchange for Vlade Divac. The rest is history.

This franchise was definitely born to suffer. Jerry West In managerial mode, he snatched one of the greatest talents in history from Los Angeles. A move that earned five championships and a work ethic, post-Michael Jordan, that could never be surpassed.

3. Nico Harrison transfers Luka Doncic to the Lakers

Due to the magnitude of the character, the franchises that made it and the stony silence that existed around this move, it would not be strange for him to top this ranking. However, we believe there were worse things.

Harrison’s firing, months after this exchange, makes everything even more explosive. Doncic He still hasn’t won anything with the Lakers, but the reason they said he was leaving, which was because of his physical condition, went out the window after meeting Luka Fit in 2025-26. In other words, everything they said they couldn’t or wouldn’t do was false. The only thing missing was conviction.

Doncic today is a serious MVP candidate and one of the best players in the League. His departure breathed new life into Hollywood and ruined the future of Dallas. The Lakers should build a statue on the edge of the Staples Center. Not to Doncic: to Nico Harrison.

2. Clippers trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (among other things) for Paul George

I can’t imagine what Clippers fans can feel when they see what the Canadian genius from OKC does night after night. This disastrous move sent a George through cotton wool in exchange for the man who, in the 2024-25 season, was MVP of the regular series, MVP of the Finals and NBA champion.

Not only that: the trade included, for OKC, Danilo Gallinari, four first-round picks and two swaps. They basically gave Sam Presti the chance to build a dynasty. Because from this move came, in addition to Shai, Jalen Williams.

1. The Trail Blazers choose Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan

The 1984 Draft was unforgettable, because of the names that were there and the things that happened and those that did not pass. Nobody judges the Rockets’ decision to sign Hakeem Olajuwon (in those years Akeem) in position 1, but the drama happened with Portland choosing Sam Bowie over the best player of all time, Michael Jordan.

MJ changed basketball, the destiny of the Bulls, and gave Chicago six championships. Bowie felt pain in his knees from minute zero and his time in the NBA was without pain or glory.

How did the Blazers excuse themselves? They said they needed an intern because in Jordan’s position they already had Clyde Drexler. The 1992 Finals were a difficult reminder of his terrible decision.