05-20-2026, 01:06 PM
Finally got through the Ujiri press conference. My takeaways:
1) It's being reported as a "mutual decision," and I'm sure it was, to an extent. We know Kidd wanted Ujiri's job, and I assume the frustration was compounded when Schmitz, too, was placed above him having never been a GM before. And, the wording of things might/might not have something to do with how much of his contract Kidd still has coming. But, I sure got the sense that Ujiri made the ultimate decision here, not that Kidd "quit." I think in this case, "mutual" might actually be accurate.
2) I agree with those who came away feeling like Ujiri wants to see Kyrie on the court with the Mavs. When I read those comments (before I watched the presser) I wondered if it was gamesmanship to drive up his value, and I suppose it might have been, but Ujiri's praise was effusive and his excitement seemed genuine. If he's playing mind games on the league, they worked on me. I kinda think Kyrie starts the year in Dallas, at least.
3) He confirmed what I've long suspected: Finley has been running the team's scouting these past couple of seasons. I don't know that this has ever been stated publicly before now, but it makes sense, and this is the one area of the organization that I feel has been going well. The types of players they've been finding these past 2-3 seasons for their 2-way slots...10-day contracts to fill in for injuries, etc. That stuff has been noticeably improved over the Nelson era. They've found a series of intriguing guys with athletic gifts, and while they haven't had one totally pan out yet (Brandon Williams is the closest), there have been a lot of them discussed here as potential solutions for one roster hole or another, moving forward over the past couple of summers. I would not be surprised if Finley is retained in the scouting department.
4) There was quite a bit of semi-coded reasoning for the moves he's making during Ujiri's wrap-up. Lots of "the fight isn't in here, it's out there" and "we all need to be on the same page and communicate" and "we're going to communicate with you, the media, and the fans the right way." I got the sense that Ujiri identified right away that there has been a lot of political angling and in-fighting around here for a long time, and that job number 1 is to get rid of all of that.
1) It's being reported as a "mutual decision," and I'm sure it was, to an extent. We know Kidd wanted Ujiri's job, and I assume the frustration was compounded when Schmitz, too, was placed above him having never been a GM before. And, the wording of things might/might not have something to do with how much of his contract Kidd still has coming. But, I sure got the sense that Ujiri made the ultimate decision here, not that Kidd "quit." I think in this case, "mutual" might actually be accurate.
2) I agree with those who came away feeling like Ujiri wants to see Kyrie on the court with the Mavs. When I read those comments (before I watched the presser) I wondered if it was gamesmanship to drive up his value, and I suppose it might have been, but Ujiri's praise was effusive and his excitement seemed genuine. If he's playing mind games on the league, they worked on me. I kinda think Kyrie starts the year in Dallas, at least.
3) He confirmed what I've long suspected: Finley has been running the team's scouting these past couple of seasons. I don't know that this has ever been stated publicly before now, but it makes sense, and this is the one area of the organization that I feel has been going well. The types of players they've been finding these past 2-3 seasons for their 2-way slots...10-day contracts to fill in for injuries, etc. That stuff has been noticeably improved over the Nelson era. They've found a series of intriguing guys with athletic gifts, and while they haven't had one totally pan out yet (Brandon Williams is the closest), there have been a lot of them discussed here as potential solutions for one roster hole or another, moving forward over the past couple of summers. I would not be surprised if Finley is retained in the scouting department.
4) There was quite a bit of semi-coded reasoning for the moves he's making during Ujiri's wrap-up. Lots of "the fight isn't in here, it's out there" and "we all need to be on the same page and communicate" and "we're going to communicate with you, the media, and the fans the right way." I got the sense that Ujiri identified right away that there has been a lot of political angling and in-fighting around here for a long time, and that job number 1 is to get rid of all of that.
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