The Dallas Mavericks are preparing their fate in the NBA Draft Lottery in a few days, but one storyline took over Mavs Nation on Monday morning.
Former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri was named team president and alternate governor of the Mavericks, signaling a major change in the front office, and he's a heck of a hire to say the least.
With Cooper Flagg leading the team for what will hopefully be a generation, Ujiri knows what it takes to win and build around stars. That's what he did in Toronto: Helping change the culture to a championship mentality, and in just five words, he didn't waste any time reassuring Mavs fans that results are coming.
"We will win in Dallas," Ujiri said.
It didn't take Mavericks fans long to buy into Masai Ujiri
Ujiri added that the fanbase has been battered and bruised over the last year, and knows that there's a playoff mentality when it comes to Mavericks basketball. They expect it now with Flagg and Kyrie Irving leading the way.
"I’m honored to join the Dallas Mavericks and step into this role at such an important time for the organization. This is a franchise with a proud history, passionate fans, and a commitment to winning."
Mavericks fans almost have no choice but to buy into this. Ujiri is a proven winner who brings championship pieces together. DeMar DeRozan didn't work in Toronto, but he had an immediate answer to get Kawhi Leonard for one of the best one-and-done years in NBA history.
Ujiri has a unique title, but he will still be in charge of roster construction, player personnel and scouting, which is arguably his biggest strength.
Scouting underrated talent can't be said enough here. OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were late first-rounders. Norman Powell was the No. 46 pick. Fred VanVleet was undrafted. These were huge gets that no one saw coming, and Ujiri is a beast at noticing talent under the radar.
The late first-round talent is Ujiri's speciality, and it will be interesting to see what happens this year when the Mavs pick at No. 30.
A lot has changed since Mark Cuban sold the team, but this is a great step toward building bigger and better. Ujiri builds a winning culture, and they need that now with Flagg about to break the NBA.
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