Mavericks' title hopes suddenly hinge on Nico Harrison pulling off stunning repeat

Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison | Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesDallas Mavericks fans will never forget the 2023-24 season, as that was the year that Dallas made the NBA Finals since 2011, the year of the franchise's lone title. Dallas ultimately lost the Finals in five games to the Boston Celtics, but that season showed that Nico Harrison built an excellent roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to contend for championships.

Even though Doncic and Irving led the way, the play of the role players also helped lead them to the promised land, with the emergence of Derrick Jones Jr. being a factor all season long. Jones Jr. was the Mavs' best defensive stopper, as he took pride in guarding one of…