Mavericks Tap Masai Ujiri To Clean up the Front Office and Lead a New Era in Dallas

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Summary

  • The Dallas Mavericks have officially hired former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri as their new president of basketball operations and alternate governor
  • Ujiri replaces Nico Harrison, who was dismissed in November following the heavily criticized trade that sent franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Inheriting a 26-56 team, Ujiri will oversee all basketball operations and build around the team’s new cornerstone, reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg

After a challenging season filled with a major trade and changes in management, the Dallas Mavericks have brought in Masai Ujiri, a well-respected leader, to help rebuild the team and create a winning environment. The Mavericks announced Ujiri as their new president on Monday. He will be responsible for all basketball decisions, from building the roster to scouting new players, and he’s known for successfully building teams that compete for championships.

The Mavericks recently made a significant hire following the November 2025 firing of former general manager Nico Harrison. Harrison’s time with the team ended after a disastrous trade that sent star player Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. That trade didn’t work out as Davis struggled with injuries and was later traded to Washington. The Mavericks finished the season with a poor 26-56 record. Since Harrison left, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi had been jointly running the team’s front office.

Masai Ujiri, 55, has 13 years of experience as a top basketball executive, most famously with the Toronto Raptors. He’s best known for making the bold trade in 2018 that brought Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, leading the team to its first NBA Championship in 2019. Even though he left the Raptors in June 2025, he’s still widely considered one of the best in the league at finding talented players and building successful teams.

Even after the recent changes in Dallas, Masai Ujiri is taking on a promising role. He’s inheriting a team built around exciting young stars like Cooper Flagg, the number one pick from 2025 and this year’s Rookie of the Year. With Flagg leading the way, alongside a healthy Kyrie Irving and the developing Dereck Lively II, Ujiri has a strong foundation to build on. Plus, the Mavericks have a good chance – a 6.7% probability – of getting another top pick in the upcoming draft, giving him the flexibility to further improve the team.

Dallas Mavericks fans, eager to see their team compete for championships again, are optimistic about the arrival of Masai Ujiri, who is known for building successful teams strategically. He’s starting by assessing the coaches and front office as he prepares for a crucial offseason. Ujiri assured the city that the Mavericks are a historically strong franchise with dedicated fans who deserve a winning team. He expressed his confidence in building a championship-caliber team, stating, “We will win in Dallas.”

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2026-05-05 10:26