It has been one month since the Mavericks parted ways with former head coach Jason Kidd. With the draft set to get underway in just four days, Dallas has yet to name Kidd’s successor.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), league sources say one reason why the Mavericks’ search is still ongoing is that the team wanted to give Duke head coach Jon Scheyer “every conceivable opportunity” to consider making the move to the NBA.
Scheyer recruited Cooper Flagg and coached the star forward during his first and only college season with the Blue Devils in 2024/25 before he was drafted first overall by the Mavs last June. Given Scheyer’s strong relationship with Flagg, it’s no surprise that multiple reports in recent weeks have connected Duke’s coach to Dallas’ open position.
However, Stein says there has been “persistent pessimism” about the the likelihood of the Mavs being able to lure Scheyer away from the Blue Devils. The same is true of Michigan’s Dusty May, Stein adds, with both college coaches seemingly set on remaining in their current roles for the 2026/27 season.
Stein referred to Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori earlier this week (via Twitter) as a “top” candidate for both the Mavericks and Trail Blazers, the two teams who are currently without a head coach. Stein has also repeatedly named Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, and veteran NBA coach Terry Stotts as other candidates Dallas is still considering.
Celtics assistant Tony Dobbins and Heat consultant Noah LaRoche were also previously identified as options under consideration, but Stein hasn’t mentioned either of them in his recent reports about the Mavs’ vacancy.
