MAVS hire Masai Ujiri as new team President

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania

BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are hiring Masai Ujiri as the franchise's new Team President and Alternate Governor, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. Ujiri ran the Toronto Raptors from 2013 to 2025, serving as the architect of the 2019 NBA championship team.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
After a six-month search following the firing of Nico Harrison, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont makes a major splash with his hire of a global basketball giant in Ujiri.

[Smitty]

@christianpclark
I'm told an official announcement is coming this morning. It's expected that Masai Ujiri will be formally introduced tomorrow.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
New Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont insisted he would hire a new head of basketball operations by mid-May and is hiring former Raptors title-winning team president and vice chairman Masai Ujiri to succeed Nico Harrison.

[SkenfromLMF]

Looks good in the moment, but how the mechanics of titles and roles interact will be the ultimate determination of success.

So I am still awaiting the definition of roles going forward

[Smitty]

@BannedMacMahon
ESPN story with @ShamsCharania on the Mavs hiring Masai Ujiri: https://espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48676414...e-governor

"Finley and Riccardi interviewed with Dumont during the search process. Sources said Dumont informed both of them over the weekend that the franchise would hire someone else, expressing appreciation for their strong work under difficult circumstances this season. Their futures with the franchise will be determined after discussions with Ujiri."

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Wow..

Outside of Presti and Brad Stevens, every GM has his warts. With that in mind, this seems like a pretty good hire.

[Winter]

Unlike coaches and players, I was never sure that I could have an educated opinion of a new GM. But I'm glad it's not Kidd, and feel slightly better that it's not anyone in-house.

[Chicagojk]

Ujiri is generally considered one of the best GM's in the league.  Will he be moving forward?   

His last few years he made some mistakes.  I think it is the classic case of having a solid team but lacking a star and trying to find ways to get a star.  That is the hardest part.  With that, the Poetl extension was really bad.   He probably held on too long from OG and Siakem (although great draft picks).    The Gradey Dick picks looks like a miss but I wonder if he sniffs around there again.    I am not sure how much influence he had on CMB this past draft but that looks like a great pick.    If I remember the Scottie Barnes pick was listed as questionable by some as too soon for him.   

I am excited.  Want to hear how things will be organized, but he is a legit GM from his past.   You remember the Dragic thing from a few years ago.   If he thinks there is not a good deal for him, he will not make a move.

[Smitty]

@MikeACurtis2
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont on the hiring of Masai Ujiri as team president/alternate governor:

“The Dallas Mavericks are committed to being a world-class organization with a strong culture and focused on winning championships. Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation and his addition to our franchise is a critical step in meeting our goals. We are honored to have him join the Mavs family. We welcome his energy and determination along with his leadership, experience and many accomplishments as a basketball executive. We are very excited about the future of our team.”


@MikeACurtis2
Masai Ujiri: “I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization. This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning. I look forward to working with our players, coaches, and leadership team to build something that reflects that standard and competes at the highest level. We will win in Dallas.”

[Smitty]

@MavsFilmRoom
Masai Ujiri will have an introductory press conference tomorrow at 2:00 PM CT

[windjc]

The Cuban era is officially and unequivalently over. Hooray!

[Chicagojk]

@MikeACurtis2
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont on the hiring of Masai Ujiri as team president/alternate governor:

“The Dallas Mavericks are committed to being a world-class organization with a strong culture and focused on winning championships. Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation and his addition to our franchise is a critical step in meeting our goals. We are honored to have him join the Mavs family. We welcome his energy and determination along with his leadership, experience and many accomplishments as a basketball executive. We are very excited about the future of our team.”


@MikeACurtis2
Masai Ujiri: “I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization. This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning. I look forward to working with our players, coaches, and leadership team to build something that reflects that standard and competes at the highest level. We will win in Dallas.”

Not a huge fan of trying to win a press conference, but fora battered franchise love seeing that “we will win in Dallas”

[Chicagojk]

Good to hear they have been working on this

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/205...48089?s=61

[From Dirk to SCREW YOU Nico]

Certainly better than Nico, but it feels like since the Raptors won the title he's been, as my kids say, "mid" at best.

[windjc]

Certainly better than Nico, but it feels like since the Raptors won the title he's been, as my kids say, "mid" at best.

The Raptors have always been a small market afraid to spend money and at a disadvantage to signing FAs because they are in Canada.

[Winter]

Certainly better than Nico, but it feels like since the Raptors won the title he's been, as my kids say, "mid" at best.

It never felt like Lindsey or Presti were ever available. Even Connelly wasn't available. If you going to pick among all the "availables" at least we got one with a ring and some history of drafting a few quality players. That's probably as good as it gets for this franchise.

[windjc]

It never felt like Lindsey or Presti were ever available. Even Connelly wasn't available. If you going to pick among all the "availables" at least we got one with a ring and some history of drafting a few quality players. That's probably as good as it gets for this franchise.

“As good as it gets for this franchise”. It’s this kind of defeatist attitude amongst some fans that drives me crazy.

[Winter]

“As good as it gets for this franchise”. It’s this kind of defeatist attitude amongst some fans that drives me crazy.

Defeatist attitude? You can't actually hire a GM under contract unless you get permission. You can't wish a GM to the Mavs.

[windjc]

Defeatist attitude? You can't actually hire a GM under contract unless you get permission. You can't wish a GM to the Mavs.

You are complaining that those 3 men would have been better choices. We don’t know that and we also don’t know the circumstances of each one or the level of interest from the Mavs.