Masai Ujiri already healing Mavericks’ old Luka wounds with Kawhi Leonard rumor

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly interested in acquiring Kawhi Leonard from the LA Clippers. However, Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri is committed to building along a timeline that fits his franchise player: Cooper Flagg.

It's a welcome departure from the Mavericks cutting ties with Luka Doncic and giving fans every reason to lose faith in the front office's ability to stay true to a franchise cornerstone.

Leonard has obvious appeal on multiple levels. Individually, he's coming off of a tremendous 2025-26 season in which he earned All-NBA Second Team honors with averages of 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per game on .505/.387/.892 shooting.

That's led to Ujiri expressing interest in reuniting with Leonard, with whom he helped the Toronto Raptors win the 2019 NBA championship. Per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN:

"Masai Ujiri, former Raptors boss and now Mavs president, is intrigued by a reunion with Leonard, but Ujiri would not just have to convince his former Toronto star to come to Dallas but still have to find more draft assets to make it worthwhile for the Clippers, the Western Conference rival source said. Ujiri has already made it clear Dallas' timeline is built around Cooper Flagg's developing future."

All Mavericks fans should be breathing a sigh of relief, as Ujiri setting the boundary of building along Flagg's timeline is a sign that Dallas won't act impulsively or abandon a vision that's working.

Mavs eyeing Kawhi Leonard, but Masai Ujiri is prioritizing Cooper Flagg

Flagg will enter the 2026-27 season at 19 years of age. Even as one of the youngest players in the NBA, he's already established himself as one of the most captivating forces in the game today. Though not quite a superstar at this stage, the potential is clear.

In 2025-26, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 1.0 three-point field goal made per game on .468/.295/.827 shooting.

Dallas went 26-56, but Flagg showcased the ability to make a positive impact in virtually every phase of the game, That inevitably strengthened the faith that the Mavericks have in his ability to continue developing into a true franchise player.

Based on the aforementioned report, it appears as though Ujiri is comfortable with remaining patient as the Mavericks slowly but surely build the ideal team around him.

That process has already begun, as Dallas has invested in a youth movement with 2026 first-round draft picks Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio de Larrea. Perhaps the time will come when a veteran fits the mold, but if the Mavericks need to give up future draft picks for a 35-year-old Leonard, it appears as though they'll act within reason.

Nothing can truly fix the way the Mavericks treated Doncic, but Ujiri prioritizing Flagg above all other goals and endeavors is a welcome shift in priorities.

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