The Dallas Mavericks announced Friday that Mike Schmitz has been brought in as general manager, reporting directly to newly installed president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri continued reshaping the Mavericks’ front office by adding Schmitz, who spent the past four seasons as assistant general manager with the Portland Trail Blazers. According to the team, Schmitz will handle daily oversight of the Mavericks’ basketball operations department.
Schmitz built his reputation in talent evaluation, starting as a scout for DraftExpress in 2012 before becoming a draft analyst for ESPN in 2017. He also took on a role as assistant coach with the Ugandan national team in 2018.
“Mike is widely regarded as one of the top evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA,” Ujiri said in a statement. “He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and an unwavering work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build a cohesive, collaborative culture across all areas of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a key part of that vision.”
In April, Schmitz was one of two Blazers front office members suspended for illegal contact with Chinese center Yang Hansen two years before Portland drafted him. Schmitz scouted Hansen in December 2023, violating NBA rules that prohibit contact with prospects before they declare early for the draft.
Since Schmitz joined Portland, the Blazers’ draft record has been uneven. In 2022, they selected Shaedon Sharpe at No. 7; Sharpe averaged 20.8 points this past season but saw limited minutes in a first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2023, they picked guard Scoot Henderson at No. 3, one spot ahead of where the Houston Rockets took Amen Thompson. The following year, Portland chose 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan at No. 7, who started 77 games last season, averaging 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 27.2 minutes.
The Mavericks own two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Their top selection has a 29% chance of jumping into the top four in Sunday’s lottery, and they also hold the No. 30 pick, acquired in February’s trade sending Anthony Davis to Washington.
The Mavericks announced Ujiri’s hiring as president of basketball operations and alternate governor on Monday. Schmitz officially joined as Ujiri’s top lieutenant five days later.
“Joining the Dallas Mavericks is an incredible opportunity,” Schmitz said in a statement. “I have immense respect for Masai, this ownership group and their vision for the franchise’s future. I’m eager to work alongside the talented people already in place and build a championship-caliber organization.”
