Mavericks Hire Masai Ujiri as President, Charging Him to Rebuild After Dončić Trade Fallout

Key facts

• Masai Ujiri hired as Dallas Mavericks president and alternate governor, announced Monday.
• Ujiri led Toronto Raptors to 2019 NBA championship, their first title.
• He replaces Nico Harrison, fired in November 2025 after Luka Dončić trade backlash.
• Mavericks finished 26-56 in 2025-26, 12th in Western Conference.
• Dallas holds a 6.7% chance at No. 1 pick in May 10 draft lottery, 29% chance at top 4.
• Ujiri founded Giants of Africa in 2003; named UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate in 2025.
• He joined ownership group of WNBA's Toronto Tempo earlier in 2026.
• Mavericks have two first-round picks in 2026 draft, one in lottery.

A New Era in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks have named Masai Ujiri as their new president and alternate governor, the team announced on Monday, ending a six-month search for a basketball operations chief. Ujiri, 55, arrives from the Toronto Raptors, where he spent 12 seasons and built the franchise that won its first NBA championship in 2019. He takes over a team still reeling from the fallout of the February 2025 trade that sent franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal sparked fan protests, led to the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November 2025, and left the Mavericks with a 26-56 record this season, 12th in the Western Conference. "Masai Ujiri is one of the great basketball leaders of this generation," Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said in a statement. "His addition to our franchise is a critical step in meeting our goals."

Ujiri's Championship Pedigree

Ujiri's résumé is defined by the bold 2018 trade that sent franchise icon DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard, a move that propelled Toronto to its 2019 title. He was named NBA Executive of the Year during his tenure with the Denver Nuggets and later with the Raptors. Under Ujiri, Toronto made the playoffs in nine of his 12 seasons, missing only three times. He left the Raptors in June 2025, a day after the NBA draft, amid a reported personality conflict with the new CEO of the parent organization. The Raptors have not replaced him, instead redistributing his duties. "I'm honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization," Ujiri said. "We will win in Dallas."

The Harrison Era and Its Aftermath

Harrison's firing in November came after months of fan outrage over the Dončić trade, which was widely condemned as one of the most lopsided in league history. The Mavericks had acquired Anthony Davis in the deal, but Davis was traded again in February 2026. In a letter to fans, Dumont said no one in the organization was happy with the start of what they had expected to be "a promising season." Harrison had acknowledged the trade's unpopularity, saying he knew Dončić was important to fans but underestimated the reaction. In June 2025, Harrison expressed hope that drafting No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg would help heal relations. Co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi had been running basketball operations since Harrison's dismissal.

A Roster Built Around Flagg and Irving

Despite the disastrous season, the Mavericks possess a promising core. Rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, winning Rookie of the Year. At 19, he is the centerpiece of the franchise's future. Star guard Kyrie Irving, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from an ACL injury, is expected to be fully healthy next season. The roster also includes role players P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and Naji Marshall under contract. Dallas holds two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, one in the lottery. The team has a 6.7% chance at the No. 1 pick and a 29% chance at a top-4 selection in the May 10 draft lottery. If the pick stays at No. 8 — the most likely outcome — drafting a point guard to pair with Flagg is a probable strategy.

Strategic Crossroads and Asset Constraints

Ujiri inherits a roster that is competitive but not championship-ready, and a draft-pick cupboard that is bare beyond 2026. Dallas does not control any of its first-round picks between 2027 and 2030, meaning a full rebuild would benefit other teams. He must decide whether to retool around Flagg and Irving — the path Harrison had intended — or to trade veterans like Thompson, Washington, Gafford, and Marshall to recoup assets. The latter would signal a longer-term rebuild, but with Flagg only 19, patience is possible. "This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning," Ujiri said. "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."

The Road Ahead

Ujiri's hiring caps a deliberate process that began with a long lunch between Dumont and Ujiri in Las Vegas last December.Golden State Warriors president Rick Welts out of retirement to serve as the Mavericks' CEO in 2024; Welts also met with Ujiri as part of the recruitment. The Mavericks now have a respected coach in Jason Kidd and a front office led by one of the league's most accomplished executives. Ujiri's immediate tasks include navigating the draft lottery, preparing for the WNBA's Toronto Tempo inaugural season on May 8 — a team he partly owns — and shaping a roster that can compete in the loaded Western Conference. "We will win in Dallas," Ujiri promised. The question is how quickly he can replicate the transformation he engineered in Toronto.

The bottom line

• Masai Ujiri, architect of Toronto's 2019 title, is now president of the Dallas Mavericks, replacing fired GM Nico Harrison.
• The Mavericks finished 26-56 after the Luka Dončić trade fallout, but have rookie star Cooper Flagg and a healthy Kyrie Irving next season.
• Dallas holds two first-round picks in 2026, including a lottery pick, but no first-rounders from 2027 to 2030.
• Ujiri must decide between retooling around Flagg and Irving or trading veterans for long-term assets.
• The hiring follows a six-month search and a December meeting between Ujiri and Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont in Las Vegas.
• Ujiri also co-owns the WNBA's Toronto Tempo, which begins play on May 8, 2026.