Brendan Haywood Says He Sees Mavericks GM Nico Harrison's Vision After Doncic Trade

Most Dallas fans still haven’t figured out what the heck Nico Harrison was thinking when he traded away franchise player Luka Doncic ... but one former Maverick seems to understand the move at least a little bit -- Brendan Haywood!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the 2011 Mavs champ at LAX this week ... and asked him all about the transaction that sent shockwaves through the league back in February.

Haywood said he's looking at the entire picture ... telling us, "Defense wins championships, that’s what Nico's talking about."

"I see the vision defensively, but I also understand why the fans are upset also."

Haywood added if Harrison’s investment in defense pays off and the Mavericks win big the next few years ... he can avoid further hostility from Dallas fans and keep his job in the process.

"I think this comes down to what happens next year for the Dallas Mavericks. If they're going to give him another year, the team gets healthy, what happens with Kyrie [Irving] -- they resign him, get [Anthony Davis] back, at the end of the day, winning cures all."

"If he can find a way to win, he can survive."

But make no mistake, Haywood understands just how beloved Doncic was in the city ... something Harrison claimed he was unaware of.

"His truth is his truth," Haywood said. "I never underestimated [Luka] though. I know they liked him."

Haywood played for the Washington Wizards for the majority of his career ... and he gave TMZ Sports his thoughts on Cooper Flagg, who could land in D.C. if they land the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery.

"In a couple of years, he’ll be able to turn any type of franchise into a respectable franchise with that type of talent," Haywood said.