DHJ Quick Take
- Elite Wish List: Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont is reportedly “aiming high” for the team’s next front office leader, targeting Sam Presti (Thunder), Brad Stevens (Celtics), Tim Connelly (Timberwolves) and Koby Altman (Cavaliers).
- Potential Mutual Interest: While these targets are currently leading elite franchises, NBA insider Chris Haynes reports that at least one individual on that list would be willing to listen to a pitch from Dumont regarding the Dallas opening.
- High-Stakes Search: The aggressive pursuit follows the mid-season firing of Nico Harrison; the Mavericks hope to pair a proven, championship-caliber exec with a roster currently headlined by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has Sam Presti of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tim Connelly of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics and Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers on his exec wish list, and one of those guys would listen to Dumont about the GM opening, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Haynes reports that the person who would listen to Dumont and Dallas is not Altman, which leaves Presti, Stevens and Connelly.
The Mavericks will hire a new general manager this offseason after firing Nico Harrison in November. Harrison will likely never work for an NBA team ever again after trading superstar and future Hall of Famer Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers last season for Anthony Davis, who played in only 29 games with Dallas before getting traded to the Washington Wizards in February.
Most people around the NBA believe Haynes is talking about Connelly, who signed a five-year deal with Minnesota in 2022. His contract had an opt-out clause last offseason, meaning he could have exercised the option and become a free agent. The talented exec could have also opted out and negotiated a new contract with the Timberwolves.
Instead, Connelly opted in on the original five-year deal he signed in 2022. That means he is under contract for two more seasons with the Timberwolves.
“Super happy here,” Connelly said at his end-of-the-season press conference last summer. “It’s been great, not just working with the team, but this whole community really feels like home. I think you guys are stuck with me.”
Presti is not going to leave the Thunder, who could win their second straight championship this season. The same goes for Stevens and the Celtics, who won the 2024 championship against the Mavericks.
With Haynes eliminating Altman, it’s pretty clear that he’s talking about Connelly.
This is all hypothetical, but if the Timberwolves don’t sign Connelly to an extension this offseason, he may talk to the Mavericks as leverage to get a raise. And if Minnesota still doesn’t give Connelly an extension after he talks to Dallas, Connelly could leave the Timberwolves for the Mavericks.
Dallas has a bright future with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving leading the way. The franchise will have a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft as well since they are missing the playoffs again this season.
It will be intriguing to see who Dumont hires as his general manager this summer. He has to hire a smart basketball mind who can build a competent roster around Flagg and Irving.
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