The Dallas Mavericks have officially brought in Ethan Casson as their new team president.
Casson, who previously served as CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves, steps into a role that will center on daily operations, while current Mavericks CEO Rick Welts focuses on larger projects, including the push for a new arena.
The new hire arrives at a complicated moment for Dallas.
The Mavericks may have landed Duke standout Cooper Flagg with the number one overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but the fan base is still reeling from the blockbuster deal that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers.
Casson made it clear that reconnecting with frustrated fans will be at the top of his agenda.
“I’m going to make [healing the fans] literally one of my biggest priorities, if not the most important priority,” he told SBJ.
He stressed that his approach will be rooted in open communication.
“I’ll describe it this way: I want to meet fans where they are,” Casson explained. “So if they’re in the ‘We’re enthusiastic about the future’ mode, great. Tell me why and how we can continue to enhance that enthusiasm. And if you’re in the camp of ‘I’m still really disappointed, I can’t believe this happened,’ great. I’m going to meet you where you are. Tell us how we change that on your behalf?”
While words may help, results will matter more. Casson oversaw a playoff resurgence in Minnesota, with the Timberwolves reaching the postseason in four consecutive years. If he can spark a similar run in Dallas, it could go a long way toward mending the wounds left by the Dončić trade.
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