The Dallas Mavericks have been on an emotional rollercoaster ride since last season. In February 2025, the Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Since then, it has been nothing but downhill for Dallas.
Former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison envisioned a championship contender featuring Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. However, Davis, notorious for being injury-prone, got hurt. Irving also sustained a season-ending injury last year, which has lingered until this season.
Dallas Mavericks Target Sam Presti and Brad Stevens as Next General Manager
Harrison was fired in November 2025, and with Davis gone and Irving still out due to injury, the Mavericks are in a sticky situation this year. However, it seems the team is now searching for a new general manager who could hopefully turn things around next year.
One of the most important roles on a team is the general manager position. GMs are usually responsible for building the roster.
Grouping the right combination of players typically results in a team’s success. The Mavericks are ready to move on from the Harrison disaster and hopefully make up for lost time next season.
According to NBA insider Chris Mannix, Dallas will attempt to recruit Oklahoma City Thunder vice president and general manager Sam Presti and Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.
Both executives have successfully built a championship roster in the past. The Thunder recently won the championship after beating the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Stevens also built a strong roster for the Celtics, capturing the title in 2024.
“I’m told that Patrick Dumont, the team’s governor, is aiming high,” Mannix reported. “Among the names on Dumont’s wish list, per league sources: Oklahoma City executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, and Boston president Brad Stevens. Cleveland top exec Koby Altman’s name is also in the mix.”
The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly looking at names like Sam Presti and Brad Stevens to run the team, per @SIChrisMannix
“I’m told that Patrick Dumont, the team’s governor, is aiming high. Among the names on Dumont’s wish list, per league sources: Oklahoma City executive vice… pic.twitter.com/n6aIQubIuD
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 31, 2026
However, given Presti’s and Stevens’ current situations, it seems unlikely they’d suddenly switch to the Mavericks. The Celtics (50-25) and Thunder (60-16) are two of the most elite teams in the league today. Leaving the teams they both worked hard to build wouldn’t make sense.
Then again, the NBA is all about business. If the money is right, there’s always the possibility that these tenured executives could switch teams.
