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Dumont also used the press conference to reaffirm the Mavericks’ commitment to building a new home inside the city limits of Dallas. The project, which has been working its way through municipal channels with Mavericks executive Rick Welts leading the franchise’s side of the discussions, is being framed as a multi-decade investment rather than a short-term venue change.
During the interview with Dumont, The News expresses doubt whether Presti and Stevens in particular would be available before adding the caveat: “But you did somehow hire [Naismith Hall of Famer] Rick Welts” as CEO. To which Dumont laughs. “I have to tell you, I can't talk to any of those people now because it would be tampering. That's against league rules. And I will never do that. “So anything that you may have heard is just rumor and chatter. Because I actually can't talk to anyone until I get permission.
Before coming to Dallas, Welts had a 10-year run with the Golden State Warriors. In Welts’ time in the Bay Area, he worked closely with Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers. An agent who went on to win two NBA Executive of the Year awards, Myers is comfortable in front of the camera and is known for his strong interpersonal skills — two qualities important to the Mavericks, team sources said, after watching Harrison struggle in both areas.
Internal candidates Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley — Dallas’ co-interim general managers since Nico Harrison’s firing in November — are under consideration to get the job. But the Mavericks, league sources said, also have ambitions of going big-game hunting. Team governor Patrick Dumont successfully persuaded NBA Hall of Famer Rick Welts to come out of retirement to run the Mavericks’ business side in one of his first major moves in charge of the team. The Athletic has reported since February that Dumont will target experienced, proven talent to run Dallas’ basketball side, as well.
Internal candidates Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley — Dallas’ co-interim general managers since Nico Harrison’s firing in November — are under consideration to get the job. But the Mavericks, league sources said, also have ambitions of going big-game hunting. Team governor Patrick Dumont successfully persuaded NBA Hall of Famer Rick Welts to come out of retirement to run the Mavericks’ business side in one of his first major moves in charge of the team. The Athletic has reported since February that Dumont will target experienced, proven talent to run Dallas’ basketball side, as well. But league insiders wonder if Dumont will be able to lure one of his top targets — and how he might pivot if he’s unsuccessful.
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Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts on Tuesday sought to add context to comments he made during a sports economics panel last week, when he said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert first approached the Mavericks more than a year ago about City Hall likely being an available site for the team's new arena and entertainment district. Welts, who joined Mavericks President Ethan Casson for a lunch with D-FW media, characterized his remarks during Friday's panel as a "very quick answer that really didn't capture the context" of what he called a "very long conversation" more than a year ago with Tolbert. "We were discussing a variety of potential sites for a future Mavericks' arena," Welts said. "And in that conversation, she told me that it could cost hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate City Hall, and it could be that the city would have to consider moving out of City Hall. That really was the summation of our conversation."
They have narrowed their focus for the new arena to two locations: the 110-acre former home of Valley View and downtown Dallas. Welts said any decision on the arena's location beyond July would "start to put real pressure" on opening the venue in time for the 2031-2032 basketball season. When The Dallas Morning News asked if there is a possibility the American Airlines Center lease could be extended a year, if needed, Welts said, "No idea."
The Mavericks said Kelliher, who spent 12 years in similar roles with the Chicago Bulls, will oversee finance and administrative matters, focusing on long-term investments. He will report to CEO Rick Welts. “We are pleased to welcome Kieran to the Mavericks,” Welts said in a statement. “His deep expertise in financial strategy and extensive NBA experience will play a meaningful role in the future of our organization and the exciting opportunities ahead.”
The appointment of Kelliher comes at a pivotal time for the organization. They are looking to unlock new and existing revenue streams as they prepare to leave the American Airlines Arena, their home since 2001, when their lease expires in 2031. In January, Welts told The Dallas Morning News they have narrowed their focus to two locations for an arena in Dallas. Those locations are downtown and the Valley View Center property, a sprawling 110-acre site at the corner of Preston Road and Interstate 635. He said a decision is expected by July.
During Thursday's 130-121 home loss versus the Sacramento Kings, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts revealed that majority owner Patrick Dumont is keeping ticket costs as is for the 2026-27 campaign. “It was one of the strangest meetings I've ever been in my 48 years in the league where you sit down with the owners,” Welts said on the Mavs' broadcast. “The staff has done two months of work to look for little areas here or there where tickets might be underpriced, even when you're in a year when you're not going to raise many prices.”
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Rick Welts, CEO, Dallas Mavericks Yes, this is highly unlikely ... but insiders insist he would be a perfect stopgap if Silver unexpectedly left early. The reasons are clear — no one is more experienced or a better people person. Welts worked in the league office as far back as the 1980s and learned from David Stern. He was a key to the Warriors’ rebuild, a mastermind behind the construction of Chase Center and is focused on finding a new venue for Dallas. But he’s not a lawyer, has already retired once and doesn’t covet the top job.
It is acknowledged, though, that Myers is close with new Mavericks CEO Rick Welts after their years together in Golden State and will indeed be asked for suggestions and input on next steps given the Myers/Welts friendship. Myers has rebuffed numerous overtures in recent years from NBA teams before expanding his multisport role under Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
During a fall-from-ahead loss Monday night to the Milwaukee Bucks, Harrison was actually subjected to only a few fourth-quarter strains of the Fire Nico chant that has become so commonplace in Mavsland since the spring, but league sources tell The Stein Line that a decision had essentially already been made by that point. Dumont arrived at the American Airlines Center for Monday's game far earlier than usual — nearly two hours before tipoff. Sources say he met behind closed doors pregame with both team president Rick Welts and former majority owner Mark Cuban and duly scheduled meetings for Tuesday to end Harrison's reign and also to meet with players directly to talk about the timing of the change.
During a fall-from-ahead loss Monday night to the Milwaukee Bucks, Nico Harrison was actually subjected to only a few fourth-quarter strains of the Fire Nico chant that has become so commonplace in Mavsland since the spring, but league sources tell The Stein Line that a decision had essentially already been made by that point. Dumont arrived at the American Airlines Center for Monday's game far earlier than usual — nearly two hours before tipoff. Sources say he met behind closed doors pregame with both team president Rick Welts and former majority owner Mark Cuban and duly scheduled meetings for Tuesday to end Harrison's reign and also to meet with players directly to talk about the timing of the change.