Masai Ujiri resets the Mavs, needs ‘clean slate to go forward’ around Cooper Flagg (original) (raw)

DALLAS — One day after Masai Ujiri made widespread staffing changes throughout the Dallas Mavericks organization, including choosing to move on from coach Jason Kidd, the team’s new president and alternate governor said they needed “a clean slate to go forward.”

Ujiri, who was officially hired May 4, said he had multiple conversations with Kidd over the past two weeks. Ultimately, Ujiri felt it was best for the Mavericks to find a new coach and got sign-off from ownership to part ways with Kidd, even though the Hall of Fame point guard had four years and $40 million remaining on his contract in Dallas, according to league sources.

“I think a new slate is a good way to look at this,” Ujiri told Dallas-area media Wednesday at American Airlines Center. “I feel in this organization, we need clarity in where we are going.”

The Mavericks will conduct a comprehensive search for Kidd’s successor. Ujiri said he will keep an “open mind” as he considers candidates who could already be working in the NBA, coaching internationally or who are part of the college ranks.

“We are going to look everywhere,” Ujiri said. “No stone unturned.”

Perhaps the most interesting comment he made in the 26-minute question-and-answer session was his acknowledgement that it might take the Mavericks time to build a winning team around Cooper Flagg, the 19-year-old franchise player.

“Every decision we make here is going to be future-based,” Ujiri said. “We have a 19-year-old generational player on our roster. We have to think that way. We are not going to make decisions based on winning today. I don’t think that would make sense for the organization.”

Kidd was in win-now mode. On April 12, before the Mavericks’ regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls, Kidd spoke about making it back to the playoffs as soon as next season. The Mavericks made two deep postseason runs in Kidd’s five seasons with the team, the highlight of which was an appearance in the NBA Finals in 2024. Still, only eight months after losing in the finals to the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks traded Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, a move that was the beginning of the end for former general manager Nico Harrison and Kidd.

This past season, Kidd expressed a desire to move into a front-office role with the Mavericks, league sources said. Ownership’s position, according to a source familiar with team governor Patrick Dumont’s thinking, was that Dallas liked him as a coach but didn’t view him as a viable candidate to take over as president, which Ujiri landed.

“I heard those things,” Ujiri said. “I discussed with Jason, and he was incredibly honest about those things. … With me, I didn’t look at that in any way. I’m comfortable with what I do and who I am in this position and the direction I’ve been given with ownership and where this team should be going.”

The Mavericks hold the Nos. 9, 30 and 48 selections in the upcoming NBA Draft. In 2027, they owe their first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets unless it falls in the top two. Because of moves Dallas made to build around Dončić, the Mavericks don’t control their own first-round pick outright after this year again until 2031, a team-building challenge Ujiri and newly hired general manager Mike Schmitz will have to confront.

Ujiri said there remains a “huge curiosity” inside the Mavericks organization to see Kyrie Irving play next to Flagg. Irving missed all of last season as he recovered from an ACL tear. Irving, 34, has one year remaining on his contract in Dallas before he can exercise a player option in the summer of 2027.

“Kevin Durant once told me, ‘There is only one Kyrie walking around in the world,’” Ujiri said. “I think we have to figure out how Kyrie fits with our program. I have had those conversations with Kyrie. I think Kyrie will fit.”

Ujiri will be busy over the next few weeks. The draft is a little more than one month away. Besides honing in on which players to take, Ujiri also needs to conduct a coaching search and find replacements for other mid- and lower-level staffers who were let go in the scouting and analytics departments.

“I have to be in this position where we align on a direction in which we go,” Ujiri said. “Build structure. Build a vision here where we all want to work in one direction to build a winning team.”

Jun 10, 2026

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms