The moment the Dallas Mavericks fired Nico Harrison, hiring a general manager and making a logical decision regarding the franchise's future, were immediately the next two moves Patrick Dumont needed to focus on. With this in mind, fans have suggested a few names as potential candidates for the next GM of the team, but Mavs' interim general manager, Matt Riccardi, may be quietly making a case for why he deserves the job.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Riccardi and Michael Finley are "expected to be candidates" for this opening, and fans would likely be pleased with either candidate landing the full-time job.
When the Mavericks fired Harrison, they immediately named Riccardi and Finley as the team's interim decision-makers, with former owner Mark Cuban, Dumont, and head coach Jason Kidd all joining alongside to form a basketball committee until the team decides to hire a new general manager. Dumont seems to want this process to be long and thorough to ensure the team makes the correct hire, but with internal candidates such as Riccardi in the mix, it's hard not to think he has a chance at being the Mavericks' next GM.
Mavericks already targeting a fan-favorite to replace Nico Harrison
There's no doubt that before the team branches into a new era with Cooper Flagg at the helm, whether that's with or without veterans like Anthony Davis on the squad for the foreseeable future, the team needs to hire a general manager before making those massive decisions. Riccardi may not be a popular name due to his being a newer name in the Mavericks' organization (he was hired in 2022), but he has the perfect qualities to lead the team into the next era of Dallas basketball.
When the Mavericks officially decided to let go of Harrison and relieve him of his duties, the team immediately had a hole when it came to finalizing decisions. While most teams would have panicked and hired an underqualified name or potentially let their owner take charge for the remainder of the season, Dumont wisely named Riccardi and Finley as the team's co-interim general managers, while leaving the door open for a possible full-time hire at the end of the season or within a few months.
Now, with buzz surrounding the team's future, the Mavericks must make a decision when it comes to who they believe the general manager can be, even if that means not hiring them until after the season. There have been a few guesses thrown out there by fans, but with Riccardi and Finley remaining as the team's interim decision-makers, their names will be thrown in the hat of possible candidates to consider.
While Riccardi might not be a name many fans recognize when it comes to basketball operations, he is young and has already been surrounded by a few names to learn right from wrong, like Harrison and other decision makers.
It's unclear what full decision the Mavericks will come to when it has to deal with the next few years and the direction the franchise wants to head on the floor, but it's clear the Mavericks need to make that decision after they hire a general manager. With Riccardi as the team's full-time general manager, the Mavericks would not only ensure that Flagg would be the focal point of the team but that he would have the full support of the front office and franchise behind him.