The Dallas Mavericks have made extensive changes across their basketball operations department ahead of the 2026-27 season, adding executives and specialists in areas ranging from scouting and analytics to player health and salary-cap strategy.
Nico Berg has been appointed Executive Director of Health and Performance. A physiotherapist with experience across multiple professional sports leagues, Berg previously worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2010 to 2014 as a consultant focused on performance, core strength and injury prevention.
Tim Chung joins Dallas as Director of Basketball Operations after three seasons overseeing basketball logistics and operations with the Memphis Grizzlies. Before Memphis, Chung spent eight years in the Toronto Raptors organization, beginning with Raptors 905 before moving into the NBA club’s front office.
The Mavericks also added Patrick Engelbrecht as Vice President of Global Talent Identification & International Affairs. Engelbrecht spent more than 13 years with Toronto and most recently led the Raptors’ global scouting and international affairs efforts.
Ijeoma Ofomata will hold two positions, serving as Manager of Scouting for Dallas and Assistant General Manager of the Texas Legends. After a 12-year professional playing career in Europe, Ofomata worked with the Basketball Africa League and the NBA before spending the past three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Another former Raptors executive, Matt Redfield, has been named Assistant General Manager. Redfield spent five seasons as Toronto’s Senior Director of Strategy and Analytics and previously worked at Second Spectrum, where his responsibilities included player-tracking data and analytics.
Blaise Ross becomes Senior Director of Basketball Salary Cap & Strategy following five years at the NBA league office. Meanwhile, Joseph Tipton joins as Director of Global Player Strategy after working in sports, investment and entertainment, including projects involving NBA Africa.
Dallas has also appointed Joe Touomou as Director of Africa/Player Development & Scouting. The former Georgetown player and Indiana Pacers scout most recently served as technical director of NBA Academy Africa, focusing on identifying and developing young talent.
Ally Wade joins as Director of Mind Health after working as a licensed psychologist with Dallas Mental Health and Performance. Her previous experience includes six years as SMU Athletics’ Director of Mental Health Services.
Michael Finley, who most recently served as Co-Interim General Manager, will transition into a new position as Senior Director of Player, Community and Alumni Engagement. He will focus on relationships between the organization, current players, former Mavericks and the North Texas community.
The Mavericks additionally hired Katie Babcock, Chef John Bauer, Kevin Clerkley, Erica French, Matt McGann, Ron Meikle, Justin Serresse and Dame Wall for various roles across performance, scouting and player development.
Marc Oelkers has been promoted to Senior Manager of Basketball Systems, while DJ Sewell moves into the role of Manager of Basketball Cap & Strategy, Associate Counsel. Julia Bateman and Cole Emanuel will also take new positions as Special Assistant to the President and Special Assistant to the Head Coach, respectively.
