A depressing season of Dallas Mavericks basketball has led to the team\u2019s nascent search for a new general manager. The initial reports on that search are also depressing.<\/p>\n
Stein reported that the word longshot does not go far enough to describe the possibility of luring Presti, Buford or Stevens away from their current posts. He left the door a little more open for the possibility of the Mavs\u2019 attracting Connelly from Minnesota after the 2025-26 season ends, while noting that the Timberwolves \u201care said to be eager to hammer out a long-term extension with Connelly after back-to-back trips to the Western Conference finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers is another name that has bubbled to the surface as talk of potential general manager candidates begins to swirl. The Mavs likely won\u2019t start the search in earnest until the end of the regular season in two weeks. Myers, after a stint at ESPN, is now the president of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, which provides consultation services for professional sports front offices the world over, including the New Jersey Devils (NHL), Crystal Palace Football Club (EPL) and the NBA\u2019s Philadelphia 76ers. Stein characterized the possibility of hiring Myers away from this lucrative position as another longshot among longshots. Myers has reportedly already declined offers from the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks, but he and Mavs CEO Rick Welts are tight from their days together with the Warriors.<\/p>\n
Spoiler alert, Mavs fans. None of these people will be Dallas\u2019 next general manager. One of the things that gives me the most confidence in saying this is another little note from Stein\u2019s reporting. He reported last week that the Mavericks has not hired an external search form for the right candidate. His latest reporting said explicitly that team Governor Patrick Dumont is the \u201cpoint person\u201d for the Mavs\u2019 current GM search.<\/p>\n
Organizationally, that makes sense. The hire would essentially be working under Dumont. But the most talented and savvy executives in the league aren\u2019t going to want to work under the most un-serious owner in professional sports. An offer from the Mavericks will be an easy one to shrug off, despite the promise of Cooper Flagg and a roster ready to be turned over, molded and shaped by whoever takes the post. These aren\u2019t people you can just money whip into submission, as Dumont and the ownership group headed by Miriam Adelson are used to doing in the casino game.<\/p>\n
Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi took over the team\u2019s front office<\/a> as co-interim general managers when Nico Harrison was fired on Nov. 11. Finley reportedly took the opportunity<\/a> on Mar. 19 at the Mavs Ball Gala to stump for the position, saying, \u201cI think I am Dallas. I\u2019m everything Dallas is about. I played here, through the good times and the bad times, and as a fan of the Mavericks, I know what it takes and I know what the fans are looking for. So I would love to have the chance to lead this franchise into the future and to, ultimately, championship contenders.\u201d<\/p>\n Finley was recently prodded by a local sports radio station about the incident involving him taking a beer out of the hand of Luka Don\u010di\u0107 following a 2024 playoff win. He took that opportunity to explain, saying,<\/a> \u201c[The Mavericks\u2019 social media team] said, \u2018We want to take a picture of Luka and his dad.\u2019 I said, \u2018Well, take the picture. You guys are great at it, take the picture.\u2019 They said, \u2018But Luka is holding a beer. He\u2019s drinking a beer.\u2019 I said, \u2018Well, go take the beer from him.\u2019 They said, \u2018What? We can\u2019t do that.\u2019 I said, \u2018Okay. I\u2019ll do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Welts reiterated on Tuesday that the team hopes to have the new GM installed before the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n