Jason Burgos
When asked about the search to replace Jason Kidd, new Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri offered up a comment that should terrify officials at Florida and Michigan basketball.
Before the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers took part in a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals inside Madison Square Garden, the Mavericks stunned the basketball world when reports revealed they had fired their head coach after five seasons in the job.
While the 53-year-old had back-to-back losing seasons, he was blindsided by the Luka Doncic trade two years ago and had to deal with major injuries to his top veterans over the last two seasons. Furthermore, Kidd signed a new multi-year extension after leading Dallas to the NBA Finals two years ago that will pay him $40 million over the next four years.
However, as NBA insider Marc Stein reports, Ujiri wanted a “clean slate” after taking over the top executive job a couple of weeks ago.
Now, the speculation has emerged about who the new team president and general manager, Mike Schmitz, will go after to be their next head coach. On Wednesday, Ujiri offered up an interesting response to that question when asked by a member of the Dallas media.
“It’s an open search… Our minds are very open,” Ujiri said. “We’re going to look everywhere. Every stone unturned, and we will really, really look at what’s best for this organization. First-time, experienced, college, European, everywhere. Whatever is best for this organization going forward.”
Could the Mavericks target Dusty May or Todd Golden?
The assumption might be that Ujiri would prefer a veteran NBA head coach or top assistant in the league. However, he is clearly open to all options, and that could include Florida’s Todd Golden and Michigan’s Dusty May.
Is either leaving for the NBA likely? No, but it should not be ruled out. Especially with both having national championships on their resume. What else is there left to prove?
Dallas will be well run with Ujiri in charge. Which means stability. The Mavericks also boast having a future face of the NBA in Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Both would be appealing to May and Golden if they were to leave cushy jobs in college.
Both are well paid in their current jobs. Would Dallas match that number? Maybe. Firing Kidd with so much money left on his contract shows Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont is not afraid to spend big to make the changes Ujiri wants. If he feels May or Golden are the right choice, Dumont is likely to shell out big bucks again to land them.
While May or Golden leaving for the Mavericks isn’t likely, Ujiri’s comments should make Michigan and Florida fans a little worried until the new college basketball preseason begins.
