Finley, Najera return to Big D to boost front office
Earl K. Sneed breaks down the additions of Mavs greats Michael Finley and Eduardo Najera to the Dallas front office.
Finley, Najera return to Big D to boost front office
DALLAS -- When it comes to evaluating NBA talent, there’s no substitute for experience.
That’s why the Dallas Mavericks have recently enlisted the help of two former NBAers and fan favorites, adding Mavs greats Michael Finley and Eduardo Najera in recent months to a front office already headlined by owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson.
While neither will have official titles, both Finley and Najera will play very vital roles. And as the front office leans on them for their on-the-court knowledge, the two will also lean on Cuban and Nelson as they begin their post-playing careers.
During the pursuit of All-Star guard Deron Williams in free agency Finley took part in making the Mavs’ pitch. He then joined the Mavs’ summer squad in Las Vegas to work with rookies Jared Cunningham, Bernard James and Jae Crowder as they began their professional careers.
Finley spent 8 ½ of his 15 NBA seasons in Dallas, before winning the 2007 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs. And according to Mavs owner Mark Cuban, Finley was a lead vocalist in persuading combo guard O.J. Mayo to Big D when he hit the free-agent market.
“The assistant to the assistant to the assistant general manger and player development coach,” Cuban joked when describing Finley’s role on ESPN 103.3 FM’s the Ben and Skin Show last week.
He added: “I’ve always told Fin, just like I mentioned with JET [Jason Terry], you can always come back. Fin called me up last year and said, ‘Look, when my days are done, would you consider having me come back and allow me to work with the Mavs and start that part of my career?’ And I said, ‘Definitely.’ And so, the door was open. … I told him he could come in and work with Donnie, work with me, work with whatever part of the organization he wants to, and that’s what he’s done. In reality, it was a great move on our part, because he’s been really good working with the rookies so far and with O.J., working within the organization and working in the draft room. So, he’s been a great add for us.”
Meanwhile, Najera was taking his own path towards life after basketball, recently retiring before being named the head coach of the Mavericks’ Development League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
Najera spent his first four seasons in the league wearing a Mavericks uniform. He then returned for a short stint during the 2009-10 campaign, before finishing up his 12-year career with two seasons in Charlotte.
In addition to coaching and taking part ownership of the Legends, Najera will also serve as an assistant to Nelson, working internally in all basketball-related activities as Nelson’s “right hand.”
"This is a dream come true," Najera said last week in an interview with the Associated Press. "I have long wondered what would be in store for me when I hung up the basketball playing shoes, and this is the perfect opportunity for my post-playing career. The chance to develop as a coach, while also assisting Mark and Donnie with the Mavs, is an ideal situation."
"I have the utmost respect for Eddie," Nelson added. "The work ethic he exhibited as a player and his knowledge of the NBA game will serve him well in his role as head coach of the Legends. Whether coaching a rookie or an NBA veteran, Coach Najera will have valuable insight for all of our players. I am equally excited to begin working with Eddie in a front-office capacity with the Mavericks as he learns the management side of the game. I am proud to be able to call Eddie an ownership partner with the Legends."
Now, both Finley and Najera return to the Mavs looking to reach the same feat the organization accomplished in the 2010-11 season by helping to bring an NBA title back to Dallas.
