Mavs hire Blazers' Schmitz as GM under Ujiri
Key takeaways
- Schmitz joined the Blazers' front office in May of 2022 after serving as a draft analyst for ESPN since 2017.
- "Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA," Ujiri said in a statement.
- The Mavs' lead basketball executive roles have been open since team owner Patrick Dumont fired GM Nico Harrison on Nov. 11.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Schmitz joined the Blazers' front office in May of 2022 after serving as a draft analyst for ESPN since 2017.
In his new role as the Mavericks general manager, Schmitz will help in "all areas of basketball operations including scouting, player personnel, strategic planning and organizational collaboration across departments." The hire is one of the first by Ujiri, who officially joined Dallas as team president and alternative governor last week.
"Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA," Ujiri said in a statement. "He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build an aligned, collaborative culture across every part of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a major part of that vision."