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

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

Following a tumultuous season marked by a massive blockbuster trade and front-office upheaval, the Dallas Mavericks have found the seasoned leader they hope will restore stability and a championship culture. On Monday, the franchise officially announced the hiring of veteran executive Masai Ujiri as the team’s new president and alternate governor. Tasked with overseeing all aspects of the Mavericks’ basketball operations—including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting—Ujiri arrives in Dallas with a proven track record of building long-term contenders.

The high-profile hiring comes just months after the Mavericks dismissed former general manager Nico Harrison in November 2025. Harrison’s tenure unraveled after executing an infamous, franchise-altering trade that sent superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package centered around Anthony Davis. The gamble failed spectacularly; Davis missed significant time with injuries and was eventually traded to Washington, leaving the Mavericks to finish the season with a dismal 26-56 record. Co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi had been managing the front office since Harrison’s departure.

Ujiri, 55, brings 13 years of elite executive experience from his time steering the Toronto Raptors. Most notably, he orchestrated the daring 2018 trade for Kawhi Leonard that culminated in the Raptors capturing their first-ever NBA Championship in 2019. Though Toronto abruptly parted ways with Ujiri in June 2025, his reputation as one of the league’s sharpest talent evaluators and team builders remains undisputed.

Despite the recent chaos in Dallas, Ujiri steps into a situation brimming with upside. He inherits a franchise now anchored by 2025 No. 1 overall pick and newly crowned Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. With Flagg acting as the new face of the franchise alongside a recovering Kyrie Irving and promising young center Dereck Lively II, Ujiri has immediate blue-chip building blocks to work with. Furthermore, the Mavericks enter the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery with a 6.7% chance at landing another top pick, giving the new president immediate flexibility to reshape the roster.

For a Dallas fanbase desperate for a return to true title contention, Ujiri’s arrival signals a renewed commitment to measured, elite-level team-building. As he prepares to evaluate the coaching staff, the front-office structure, and a highly critical upcoming offseason, Ujiri delivered a clear and confident message to the city, “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.”