Patrick Dumont has kept a relatively low profile since his family took ownership of the Dallas Mavericks two years ago. But that changed in a big way this week. Dumont is set to become the next chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., a move that not only elevates his role in the business world but also deepens his ties to Las Vegas - a city sitting squarely in the crosshairs of the NBA’s expansion radar.
Let’s be clear: this is a notable development, especially with the league inching closer to an expansion vote that could reshape the NBA’s footprint. Las Vegas, alongside Seattle, has been repeatedly mentioned by Commissioner Adam Silver as a top candidate for a new franchise.
The city already boasts NBA-ready infrastructure, a thriving sports scene, and strong ownership interest - all key ingredients for a successful expansion market. Dumont stepping into a leadership role with Las Vegas Sands only adds fuel to the speculation fire, even if no one from the Mavericks camp is fanning the flames.
Dumont’s new gig becomes official on March 1, and while it’s a corporate move on paper, it has basketball implications. Especially when you consider that the Adelson family - Dumont’s in-laws and the financial force behind both Las Vegas Sands and the Mavericks - owns roughly 250 acres in Irving, Texas.
That land, located near the former site of Texas Stadium, has been earmarked for a potential destination resort. And yes, that resort could someday include a new arena for the Mavericks.
But there’s a catch: casino gambling isn’t legal in Texas, and that’s a major roadblock.
For now, the resort-arena vision remains just that - a vision. Texas lawmakers have repeatedly pushed back against legalizing casino gambling, and there’s no real momentum suggesting a change is coming anytime soon.
That legislative gridlock leaves the Mavericks in a bit of a holding pattern. The team’s lease at the American Airlines Center runs through 2031, which sounds like a long runway, but in the world of arena planning and team logistics, that timeline is already ticking.
That looming deadline has only intensified speculation about the Mavericks’ long-term future - especially with Dumont now stepping deeper into the Las Vegas spotlight. But Dumont has been firm on this topic before. Back in 2025, when rumors first started swirling about a possible relocation, he shut them down in no uncertain terms.
“The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas,” Dumont said at the time. “There is no question in that.
That is the answer, unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks and they will be in Dallas.”
That statement still stands today. And while Dumont’s new role may raise eyebrows, it doesn’t change the fact that the Mavericks remain deeply embedded in the Dallas community.
The franchise has roots, history, and a fan base that stretches back decades. Moving a team isn’t just about business strategy - it’s about identity, culture, and connection.
Dumont seems to understand that.
Still, the timing of all this is hard to ignore. With expansion talks heating up and Dumont’s influence in Las Vegas growing, the dots are there for people to connect - even if the lines between them remain speculative.
So what’s next? For now, the Mavericks are focused on the present - both on the court and off it. But as the NBA’s expansion picture comes into sharper focus, and as Texas continues to wrestle with its stance on gambling, the Dumont-Adelson connection will remain a storyline worth watching.