The Dallas Mavericks have their shortlist for Nico Harrison’s successor.
Dallas is eyeing four particular candidates to potentially replace their fired ex-general manager Harrison, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday. Those four candidates are Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti, Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly, Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens, and Cleveland Cavaliers GM Koby Altman.
The Mavericks are looking for a new full-time GM after firing Harrison last November. Harrison, the former Nike executive, was the architect of the franchise’s disastrous Feb. 2025 trade of superstar Luka Doncic and lasted just nine months in his position after trading away Doncic.
Dallas’ basketball operations are currently being led by a notable duo in the meantime. Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were appointed as co-interim general managers for the Mavericks after Harrison’s firing.
As for the Mavericks’ four potential full-time GM candidates, Presti and Stevens are by far the biggest names … and would also be the toughest to get. The former is the reigning NBA Executive of the Year and is now widely regarded as the single best executive in the league after bringing the Thunder to the 2025 NBA championship. Meanwhile, the latter is also a former NBA Executive of the Year as well as a recent NBA champion with the Celtics and recently turned down a huge basketball job that just opened up elsewhere.
An executive in the tier of Connelly or Altman would be a far more realistic get for the Mavericks, particularly if their respective current teams suffer early playoff exits. In particular, Connelly was rumored a couple of years ago to be facing an uncertain future in Minnesota (before ultimately signing a contract extension).
