The Mavericks have named former Raptors executive Masai Ujiri as President and Alternate Governor.
Ujiri will oversee all aspects of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting, while working with team leadership to shape the organization’s basketball philosophy and long-term direction, according to a team press release.
Dallas fired GM Nico Harrison in November. It has been searching for a lead executive since that point. They finally made their choice on Monday.
“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,” Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont said in a statement. “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.”
Interim co-GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi handled operations following Harrison’s dismissal. Timberwolves executive Tim Connelly and former Warriors executive Bob Myers were reportedly high on Dallas’ list but the Mavericks had difficulty getting permission to interview them.
Ujiri joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, a WNBA expansion team, earlier this spring.
He was hired to run the Raptors’ front office in the spring of 2013 and remained in that role until last summer, when the team abruptly parted ways with him in late June. Changes within the Raptors’ ownership group were cited as one key reason for the split; the club had also missed the playoffs in four of the past five seasons at the time of Ujiri’s exit.
Ujiri had spent the past year spending more time with his family and focusing on non-NBA pursuits. However, he remained open to the idea of returning to the NBA if the right opportunity arose.
“I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization,” Ujiri said in a statement. “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.”
Id say good hire. Time to prove his track record with Toronto isnt a fluke.
Dallas is not any proving ground for what he achieved in Toronto.
He’s one of the best in the business regardless of what he does in Dallas. Can’t guarantee a championship anywhere, but one thing is guaranteed: He’ll be better than Nico!
Very good hire and has a track record of building a winner. I really wanted Bulls to get him but we get shopping at home depot in Minneapolis it appears.
Didn’t he get sacked by Toronto for chasing the office women around? Or am I completely wrong here? I seem to remember that happening. And if I’m right, Took time off to be with his family and a WNBA team? There’s a joke in there somewhere. If I’m wrong feel free to tell me. LOL
I just did a google search and nothing came up under ‘allegations’ or ‘women’. LOL
You might be thinking of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka who got ousted in Boston because of that?
Yep, it was definitely Udoka lol
You’re wrong! He never had any sexual harassment case, while with the Raptors.
My Bad! Thanks for the education! LOL
The Mavericks front office under a previous regime (Cuban days pre-Cynt Marshall) had an office scandal around a team CEO/president named Terdema Ussery that led to multiple dismissals.
Last name is kinda similar (Ussery and Ujiri aren’t related though), so perhaps that’s what rang a bell? For me, I did a double take just to be sure it wasn’t the same guy, but yeah, totally different guys!
I hear David Kahn is available. He’s more along the lines of the dollar store her in Mpls though. :)
First move should be to trade Flagg to Lakers for LeBron and Bronny.
Great hire by the Mavericks organization. Masai is a smart guy and knows what he is doing. Hopefully, Mavs fans are happy
hope he doesnt trade flagg to the lakers for a 12 pack of beer
Let’s see if he can rip another GM off with a Kyrie trade lol
wow way out of left field! wishing Masai and the mavs all the best
I was really surprised he never was part of the discussion. He was the logical third Name to discuss if you Look at the Conelly / Myers Level.
Should prove to be a really good hire. I don’t think his time in Toronto was a fluke.
People praise his results in Toronto (Championship w/the Klaw) but what I like about the guy is his international background. Born in the UK, strong relationship with the Euroleagues and Africa, and cosmopolitan. Dallas has traditionally been high on international players so that’s a plus, and he aligns with Kyrie in that sense.
He won’t have the strange stigma Nico had for international scouting and players. He won’t wear rose-colored glasses for the AAU scene or try to sign all his AAU Nike guys.
Now he gets to win a championship with the White Klaw to complete his collection!
Alternate governor?