Mavericks haven’t wasted time putting Masai Ujiri’s stamp on roster

July 19, 2026

The Mavericks didn’t hire Masai Ujiri to sit on his hands. Judging by the past few weeks, he has no plans to.

Dallas has quietly become one of the NBA’s busiest teams this offseason, reshaping its roster around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg while adding size, youth and international talent seemingly everywhere it turns.

The changes started on draft night. The Mavericks selected Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick before moving up five spots later in the first round to land Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea, giving up the 30th pick and two future second-rounders in the process.

Dallas wasn’t finished. It later acquired Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser as part of a six-team blockbuster, then signed Turkish standout Tarik Biberovic after obtaining his NBA rights. The front office has remained aggressive ever since.

Dallas matched the Knicks’ offer sheet for center Moussa Cisse, preserving one of last season’s pleasant surprises, before swinging another trade to acquire former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher from the Hawks.

Taken together, the moves paint a fairly clear picture. The Mavericks are getting younger, longer and more versatile while surrounding Flagg with players who could continue to grow alongside him.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re finished. Per multiple reports, Dallas continues to gauge the market for center Daniel Gafford, and veteran guard Klay Thompson has also surfaced in trade speculation despite remaining under contract.

In other words, don’t assume this is the roster the Mavericks plan to take into opening night. After all, Ujiri has never been known for standing pat.

The Mavericks still have Kyrie Irving returning from a torn ACL, along with established contributors such as Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, Max Christie, Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin. But the overall direction feels different than it did just a few months ago.

Where it goes from here, well, we’ll find out.

But one thing already seems obvious. Namely, the Mavericks have entered a new era, and Ujiri isn’t wasting any time making sure the roster reflects it.