The Dallas Mavericks have appointed Mike Schmitz as their new General Manager, filling the vacancy left by Nico Harrison. Schmitz embarks on this role with an impressive and unconventional career path, including significant experience as an analyst for ESPN.
The Dallas Mavericks have recently entered a new phase of organizational restructuring. Just five days after his appointment as President and Alternate Governor, Masai Ujiri has swiftly installed Mike Schmitz as the new General Manager for the Texan franchise.
At only 36 years old, Schmitz steps in to fill the void left by Nico Harrison. Harrison departed his position following intense fan criticism and a lack of on-court success, particularly in the aftermath of a disappointing trade involving Luka Doncic. Schmitz’s rapid ascent to such a critical leadership role is nothing short of remarkable.
«The move to the Dallas Mavericks is an incredible opportunity,» Schmitz stated in his first official address as a member of the Mavs. «I have immense respect for Masai, this ownership group, and the vision they hold for the future of this franchise. I am eager to collaborate with the talented individuals already in place and contribute to building an organization with championship aspirations.»
His evident self-confidence is well-founded. While Schmitz may not be the most recognizable name in the NBA, he is far from a novice. Dallas marks a significant step, but he previously accumulated substantial experience as an Assistant General Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers.
In Portland, he was essentially the right-hand man to the General Manager, with a primary focus on roster construction and team development – an area where his exceptional talents truly shine.
Prior to joining the NBA in 2022, Schmitz spent five years as a draft expert for the American network ESPN. His career journey began in 2012 with DraftExpress, a highly regarded scouting service utilized by both professional and collegiate teams as a crucial source for analysis and information.
Schmitz’s astute ability to identify talent was further evidenced during his tenure in Portland. Between 2022 and 2025, the Trail Blazers’ draft picks under his influence included players like Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Donovan Clingan – three young talents who now form the core of a new generation for the Blazers, leading them to the playoffs this season for the first time in five years.
Violation of Draft Regulations: Mike Schmitz Suspended for Two Weeks by Portland
However, his time in Portland was not entirely without its challenges. In early April 2026, Schmitz, along with Sergi Oliva, received a two-week unpaid suspension from the NBA. The infraction stemmed from unauthorized contact with Chinese center Yang Hansen in December 2023, prior to Hansen’s official entry into the draft. Hansen was later selected 18th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies and subsequently traded to Portland. Such premature contact with players not yet eligible for the draft is strictly prohibited for NBA teams.
In addition to the suspension, the franchise incurred a $100,000 fine. «Upon becoming aware of this incident, the Portland Trail Blazers self-reported to the NBA,» the Blazers announced in April. «The organization fully cooperated with the investigation and accepts the league’s decision.»
Considering Hansen’s somewhat inconsistent first season in Portland, the on-court risk associated with the incident has, thus far, not materialized significantly. Nevertheless, Schmitz continues to be recognized within the industry as an individual with an exceptional eye for talent.
Beyond the previously mentioned draft examples, a past assessment from 2017 has recently resurfaced. In that year, while working as an analyst for ESPN, Schmitz wrote about Luka Doncic: «He has handled the immense pressure associated with his prodigy status with remarkable composure, performing at an exceptionally high level against NBA-caliber competition,» he noted. «Very few ‘prodigies’ truly live up to their often-inflated expectations. Many fade away, peak too early, or succumb to the hype. However, as was evident even in his early days with Union Olimpija, Luka Doncic appears to be an exception.»
Looking back, Doncic is now widely considered the best player from the 2018 NBA Draft. At the time, however, his draft position was a subject of considerable debate. The Phoenix Suns notably selected Deandre Ayton with the first pick, while the Atlanta Hawks drafted Doncic third overall, immediately trading him to the Dallas Mavericks – the very team that Schmitz has now joined.
From Luka Doncic to Victor Wembanyama: Mike Schmitz’s NBA Scouting Successes
Schmitz’s new role as General Manager of the Mavericks can, in a way, be attributed to Doncic. Had the Slovenian not landed in Dallas years ago, Harrison, the then-GM, would never have orchestrated the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis. The persistent fan protests that ultimately led to Harrison’s dismissal in November would also not have occurred, thus paving the way for Schmitz.
Even years prior, Schmitz demonstrated his keen insight into talent. In 2020, he described Victor Wembanyama as «perhaps the greatest talent in the world.» He noted Wembanyama’s 7’3″ height with a nearly 8-foot wingspan, stating, «He blocks shots like Rudy Gobert and shoots like Kristaps Porzingis. He can dribble and pass. I’ve never seen anything like it.» At this point, Wembanyama’s draft was still three years away, and five years before his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
Immediately following the 2020 draft, Schmitz offered a series of incisive assessments of that year’s prospects on X. He identified LaMelo Ball as the best player in the draft, called Deni Avdija the top international prospect, and believed Tyrese Haliburton was significantly undervalued (drafted 12th). According to his contemporaneous evaluations, he foresaw Tyrese Maxey potentially being a top-10 pick in a redraft, while viewing Onyeka Okongwu as the best big man in that class.
Many of these predictions have proven accurate in hindsight. Ball, Avdija, Haliburton, and Maxey have since become All-Stars, while Okongwu is enjoying his best professional season to date, averaging 15.2 points per game. These examples collectively underscore Schmitz’s proficiency in talent evaluation – a critical area where the line between a «steal» and a «bust,» or a miss and a home run, can profoundly shape the trajectory of entire franchises.
The Doncic trade, for instance, transformed Dallas from NBA Finals contenders, just three wins away from a championship, into a lottery team in a very short period. Conversely, teams like the San Antonio Spurs have, through their recent drafts of Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper over the past three years, laid a promising foundation for a potential championship team. The direction of a franchise can shift so dramatically, and it is precisely in this domain that the Mavericks will need to make sound decisions going forward. The selection of Cooper Flagg in the 2025 draft represents the initial step, but further strategic moves will be necessary for a significant leap and a return to championship contention.