Masai Ujiri's first crucial Mavericks hire is staring him in the face

After joining the Dallas Mavericks as their new president and alternate governor, Masai Ujiri still has to hire a general manager. He'll obviously be head of all basketball operations, but he needs to bring in a general manager to work alongside him — and the perfect answer couldn't be more obvious as the Draft Lottery and NBA Combine quickly approach.

Matt Riccardi has been with the Mavericks since 2022, and after a successful run as the team's co-interim general manager with Michael Finley following Nico Harrison's firing, a promotion to general manager makes sense. He and Finley did an incredible job in the Anthony Davis trade, netting five draft picks and multiple impact players after it was once expected that they would only land expiring contracts, and they deserve credit for putting Ujiri in a good spot as he joins the Mavs.

Matt Riccardi would be a home-run GM hire

Like Ujiri, Riccardi has worked his way into the position that he's in today from the ground up. He began his NBA journey as an unpaid intern with the Brooklyn Nets before climbing the ladder and becoming one of the most respected members of the Mavericks' front office.

Ujiri will quickly realize how much he has to offer, and he could begin his time in Dallas on a high note by making Riccardi his GM and keeping Jason Kidd as his head coach.

Ujiri's success story is somewhat similar to Riccardi's, as he began his NBA career as an unpaid international scout with the Orlando Magic. Through years of hard work and growth, he became one of the most well-respected and well-known executives in the NBA. He now has a great chance to continue his impressive legacy in Dallas.

This all starts with him finding a GM to work with, and whoever he chooses will be a major story as the offseason heats up. Riccardi has proven that he should at least be considered for this role, and his deep-rooted Texan history would definitely help him here as well.

Riccardi's destiny was to work with the Mavericks

Riccardi grew up in Plano, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and he understands the history and legacy that comes with the Dallas Mavericks. He was a Mavericks fan from an early age, and he badly wants to help lead the franchise to its second NBA Championship.

Riccardi genuinely cares for everyone involved within the Mavericks organization, and his history in Dallas would help make Ujiri's transition to his new franchise as seamless as possible.

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