The Dallas Mavericks have made a seismic front-office move by hiring Masai Ujiri as their new President of Basketball Operations, and early rumors suggest his first blockbuster trade could involve moving their biggest star.

After weeks of speculation, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont landed his top target last week, bringing in the architect of the Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship run. Ujiri's resume speaks for itself: seven straight playoff appearances in Toronto, the franchise's first Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2016, their first NBA Finals appearance in 2019, and ultimately the title that same year. Known for his keen eye in the draft, player development, and fearless trade negotiations, Ujiri has a proven track record of making bold moves to elevate teams.

Now, the big question for Mavericks fans: what's his first major play? While a full rebuild won't happen overnight, ESPN's Jeremy Woo dropped a major hint this week. According to Woo, Ujiri's primary focus will be building around rising star Cooper Flagg, which puts veteran guard Kyrie Irving squarely on the trade block.

"What Dallas likely won't want to do is straddle two timelines," Woo explained. "Finding trade value for a healthy Irving likely becomes prudent if he gets back to top form."

Irving, a nine-time All-Star at 34 years old, missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL in March 2025. While the extended recovery time could help him return at a high level, his timeline doesn't align with the young core Ujiri appears eager to develop. The new president's challenge will be balancing the immediate value of a healthy Irving against the long-term vision for the franchise.

For a team looking to climb out of the standings' basement, this could be the kind of bold, decisive move that defines Ujiri's tenure in Dallas. Fans should expect plenty of action before next season's trade deadline.