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Rumor: Dallas Mavericks hope to add Sam Presti for vacant GM job

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Being at the top of your profession usually attracts suitors. Since being named general manager in 2007, Sam Presti has built up the Oklahoma City Thunder into an NBA powerhouse. He's built up two title contenders in the small-market franchise and finally captured a championship ring as his magnum opus.

Presti's track record speaks for itself. MVP winners like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed some of their best years there. All three headlined several title contenders. Regular season dominance and rich playoff history show how the Thunder have remained at the forefront of the NBA's zeitgeist.

That's why it shouldn't be a shocker to see one of the NBA's newest owners go all out to make a home-run hire. The Dallas Mavericks are without a decision-maker. Nico Harrison was fired in Nov. 2025 — not even a full year after the league-altering Luka Doncic trade.

Entering a pivotal offseason, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reportedly hopes to win over more of the Dallas fanbase by bringing in a household name to make the roster decisions. In his latest NBA notes, SI's Chris Mannix listed off a laundry list of names that they hope to add.

"I’m told that Patrick Dumont, the team’s governor, is aiming high. Among the names on Dumont’s wish list, per league sources: Oklahoma City executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and Boston president Brad Stevens," Mannix wrote. "Cleveland top exec Koby Altman’s name is also in the mix, a source said."

If you're going to aim high, those are the top guys to go for. This isn't the first time Presti has been involved in the rumor mills for other NBA openings. The Phoenix Suns reportedly tried to do the same when Mat Ishbia bought the franchise. The Boston Celtics were another team linked to the longtime OKC GM before Stevens transitioned over from head coach to front office.

I guess we'll see in the coming months if this crumble of information snowballs into anything more serious. The Mavericks are about to enter a pivotal offseason. Since the Doncic disaster, Dallas has rebounded nicely with Cooper Flagg. If it adds a high 2026 lottery pick, they got the grounds of something solid, at least.

Mannix later wrote that Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is still in the mix. That's been the word around Dallas since Harrison was fired. The longtime head coach could pull a Stevens and transition over to a GM role.

"Jason Kidd has had conversations throughout the season about transitioning to a front office role, sources say," Mannix wrote. "Though the Mavericks appear more inclined — for now — to keep Kidd on the bench to continue the development of Flagg."

Let's think this out — could Presti leave for the Mavericks? Sure. Never say never in the NBA. A lot of things happen that most people wouldn't have previously believed. Would it be surprising? Definitely. He's spent most of his NBA life in OKC as the longest-tenured general manager in the league. And right now, they're amid a potential dynasty with Gilgeous-Alexander and others.

To leave that in the middle of it would be a little unprecedented. We've seen decision-makers leave at the tail-end of contending windows — ala Bob Myers and the Golden State Warriors. But for Presti to leave as OKC's roster is mostly guys in their mid-20s, would be a jaw-dropper.

Not denying the Mavericks' interest in Presti, but it takes two to tango. And considering his history and bulletproof job security in OKC — along with their current championship-caliber roster and deep pockets filled with draft assets — just doesn't make a whole ton of basketball sense to suddenly exit for a less stable situation and ownership group.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Rumor: Dallas Mavericks hope to add Sam Presti for vacant GM job

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