Patrick Dumont has his hands full these days, what with his new title as chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., on top of the public relations mess made of the family’s investment in Texas. Santa Anna didn’t make an entrance as hostile. But, whatever you or Mark Cuban may think, the Adelsons are here to stay, so we may as well make the best of it.
In the spirit of the moment, here’s some advice in hiring the next general manager:
Don’t screw this up.
You’re welcome.
Mavericks
Before you get the wrong idea, don’t think that I blame Dumont for sanctioning the Luka trade. He was only backing up his general manager, who, just days before, had received a vote of confidence from yours truly.
Should Dumont have told Nico Harrison he was crazy to trade Luka? No question.
Should he have at least called someone for a second opinion? Absolutely.
On the other hand, there’s a lot to like about an owner who lets the GM do his job. Other than Jerry Jones, of course.
Firing Nico and cleaning up the scene of the crime by trading Anthony Davis for something while dumping his salary were the requisite first steps in making amends. The locals won’t get over it anytime soon. But Dumont can do himself, the franchise and the fan base a favor by hiring a GM on the level of Cynt Marshall’s successor as CEO.
Rick Welts was a home-run hire, a guy with a long track record of success in the league office and first-rate franchises, notably Golden State, where he led the initiative to build an arena counted among the NBA’s finest. Talking Welts into coming out of retirement was not only genius, it demonstrated Dumont’s acumen in management personnel and should set the bar for the next GM.
Yes, I wrote that whoever negotiated the AD trade should get the job full-time. Turns out it was Matt Riccardi, the co-GM along with Michael Finley. Frankly, when I made that nomination, I might have still been in shock that anyone would take Street Clothes’ contract without demanding a first-born child in return.
Riccardi should still get some consideration. Might even be a great hire. But I’m not sure it gets Dumont what he needs at this point, and that’s a no-brainer to quiet the rabble in the streets.
First choice: Bob Myers, who built the Warriors dynasty, then got out while he still had a head full of glorious hair. He’d make a fabulous spokesperson for a franchise in desperate need of one. Did a gig with ESPN, then took a consulting job. Word is he can’t get out of the contract, but don’t believe a word of it. He gets offers all the time.
Would he come to Dallas? Might be nice to work with Welts again. Money shouldn’t be an object with owners ranked among the wealthiest in sports. Not to mention the draw of building around Cooper Flagg. But Myers already got out once, and he might feel like, been there, done that.
By the way, Flagg is the ultimate sweetener in this deal. Other organizations may have more draft capital, better records, deeper roots in the community. But what other franchise can offer a player as young, smart, versatile and hard-working, one who wants to be at least as great as the last great young player the Mavs had?
Ought to be a no-brainer, no?
If he’s interested, the new guy can also be on the ground floor of the new arena project, which, if the Adelsons’ other developments are any indication, will be world-class.
Let’s just hope it’s in Dallas.
Right, Ms. City Manager?
Next choice, if Myers says no: Sam Presti. I know, I know. Why would he leave Oklahoma City, where he’s already built the NBA’s next dynasty, one that might be sustainable for 10 years?
Because, well, it’s Oklahoma City.
Also because he might be tempted to start over with a cornerstone such as Flagg and an owner who — in theory, anyway — wouldn’t be afraid of how much salary he spills on his first or second apron. Cuban, to his credit, never cared about saving money until he just about ran out of it, which is how we got where we are today.
Maybe Presti could be tempted; maybe not. The only sin is in failing to ask.
For that matter, give Brad Stevens a call. He picked up where Danny Ainge left off in Boston and added to it. Born and bred in Indiana, he might think Texas is too football. He’s a Celtic now. But so were Don Nelson and Rick Carlisle at one time or another, and they seemed to like it here well enough.
Could Dumont lower his sights a little and take a deputy from Oklahoma City or Boston or San Antonio? Sure. The Wizards did just that when they hired Will Dawkins out from under Presti. Dawkins was also the one guy willing to take AD off the Mavs’ hands. We’ll reserve judgment.
Here’s the thing: I don’t know if Dumont can afford to go with a second fiddle. Hire a big enough name, and it might be the best apology he could possibly make for the moment.
And if he wants to stick it to the former owner like he did last week when he said he might just buy down more of the team, he could go after Daryl Morey, the 76ers’ boss and Cuban’s arch nemesis. He’s a little weird, and the shirtless collar-and-blazer is a bad look, but he swung big in Houston and Philadelphia. If it doesn’t always work out, it’s at least exciting. On second thought, maybe we’ve had enough excitement for a while.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
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