Evaluating Masai Ujiri’s post-championship run

Key Points:

• The Dallas Mavericks have hired veteran executive Masai Ujiri as their new President of Basketball Operations and Alternate Governor, following his tenure with the Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets.
• Ujiri’s post-2019 Raptors tenure was marked by mixed results, including the successful draft of Scottie Barnes and acquiring Brandon Ingram, but also several questionable trades and free agency signings that failed to improve the team.
• Key missteps included trading Norman Powell too early, losing Fred VanVleet for nothing in free agency, overpaying Immanuel Quickley, and a disastrous trade sending OG Anunoby to New York for limited return.
• Ujiri struggled with Toronto ownership’s reluctance to rebuild promptly after the 2019 title, which hampered his ability to reset the team at an ideal time.
• Despite a poor recent track record, Ujiri’s new role in Dallas offers him full control and a chance to revitalize his approach alongside a generational superstar, potentially marking a fresh start in his executive career.