Happy Cinco de Mayo.

I vacationed to Mexico in August 2024. It’s a great place to visit if you find the right spot, factoring in affordability, crowds and scenery. I’m not sure I’ll ever go back, but it was an enjoyable experience.

NBA

Magic fire head coach Jamahl Mosley

Many of us saw this coming.

When a franchise’s growth stagnates, the head coach is typically the first head — no pun intended — to roll. After five seasons, the Magic had seen enough from the 47-year-old Mosley.

Overall improvement wasn’t the only thing lacking in Orlando under Mosley. The Magic have a big roster full of non-shooters. As such, the offense failed to even crack the league’s top 20 in each of the past few four seasons. A bottom-10 unit on either side of the ball is a recipe for building a non-contender, a status the Magic actively tried to move out of after last offseason’s blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane.

While known for lacking creativity in his offensive sets, Orlando’s struggles aren’t all on Mosley. The team, soon to be inherited by a new head coach, has talent, but fit is a major question. Can Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner together truly anchor a great offense? Is Orlando strong enough at the center position? Do the Magic need a dynamic point guard?

Those problems will need answered by Jeff Weltman, the Magic president. He’s expected to remain with the organization, and will have the power to hire a new head coach.

Without exploring too far, Billy Donovan’s name immediately jumps to mind as a potential candidate. The former Bulls head coach likely wants to remain in the NBA, and has ties to the area, given his decorated run as Florida’s head coach earlier this decade.

That’s for another day, though. Orlando just blew a 3-1 lead to a strong but flawed Pistons team. For the time being, the Magic have more questions than answers. It’s on Weltman to problem solve this summer.

Mavericks hire Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations

The Nico Harrison era in Dallas may never fully be put to rest. After all, the former Mavericks general manager did irreparable harm to his basketball reputation and — to a degree — the entire franchise by trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The recovery from that move is only in its infant stages, both for the organization and fan base. This hire, however, spawns hope. It tucks the proverbial sheets in slightly more. Maybe one day — a much brighter and forgiving day — the failures of Nico Harrison will be forgotten in Dallas.

Now that the Mavericks are marching forward, the timing was right to hire a permanent lead basketball decision maker. Enter Ujiri, who needs no introduction.

The 55-year-old’s journey heading a front office started in Denver, where he won Executive of the Year in 2013. Not long after, Ujiri joined the Raptors, culminating in an NBA championship in 2019. The executive and Toronto went their separate ways just under a year ago, setting the stage for this union.

Dallas finished this season just 26-56, but possesses one of the NBA’s biggest crown jewels in Cooper Flagg. The reigning Rookie of the Year, along with a possible high first-round selection in next month’s draft, gives the Mavericks hope. That word springs eternal for many franchises, year after year, but not every team has Masai Ujiri. Not every team has a championship-level executive.

Sure, the aptitude of front-office members can be difficult to quantify, but at least Ujiri is experienced. A proven leader, the former Nuggets and Raptors decision maker is the right choice to guide the Mavericks. And if not, at least he’s better than Nico Harrison.

Bulls hire Bryson Graham as executive vice president of basketball operations

It’s nearly impossible to predict how a newly-minted executive will fare in a new position. Graham, 39, is no exception. The former Hawks front-office member has a keen scouting eye, but running an NBA team is a different beast. Few in the industry can do it at a high level, and the odds are that Graham will fail.

If running an NBA franchise is a different beast, guiding the Bulls is a different monster. Think of a normal team as King Boo. Think of the Bulls as Bowser. In short, Graham will have his hands full — and, again, probably fail.

The first order of business for Graham and Chicago will be Sunday’s draft lottery. The Bulls boast odds just over a 20% chance of landing in the top four of June’s draft. Those odds are admittedly slim, but the opportunity will present itself regardless for Chicago to add young talent in a loaded draft.

There will be patience for Graham, too — or at least there should be. The Eastern Conference is begging for a contender to step forward, but that shouldn’t rush the process in the Windy City. The Bulls need to build the right way, not the expeditious one.

After the next week or so is sorted through, expect the franchise to focus on finding its next head coach. Opting for youth in Graham suggests the Bulls may prioritize the same in an on-court leader, but that’s just connecting the dots.

At last, the Bulls are seemingly in good hands at the decision-making level. That’s all well and good, but 20 or so other franchises can say the same thing. Winning big in the NBA comes along the margins. Can Graham thread the needle? We’ll find out.