Mavericks’ Next Coach Might Not Be a Big Name — And That’s Exactly the Point

The Dallas Mavericks aren’t just looking for a new head coach. They’re looking for a new kind of head coach — one who won’t try to run the front office.

When Masai Ujiri took over as the lead executive in Dallas, the assumption was that the franchise would make a splash. Names like Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Michigan’s Dusty May surfaced. But according to a report from ESPN, the most likely outcome now is that the Mavericks will promote from within, tapping one of two rising assistants already on staff.

The Ujiri Blueprint

This wouldn’t be the first time Ujiri has gone this route. Back in 2018, as president of the Toronto Raptors, he handed the keys to an unproven assistant named Nick Nurse. That hire produced a championship in 2019. When Nurse left in 2023, Ujiri again looked internally, promoting Darko Rajakovic. The pattern is clear: Ujiri values continuity and organizational alignment over star power on the bench.

It makes sense why Dallas would follow a similar playbook. Jason Kidd, for all his playing pedigree, reportedly had a limited role in front office decisions during Mark Cuban’s tenure. The new regime is sweeping out old voices — multiple executives and coaches have been let go in recent weeks, and Kidd was just the latest.

What This Means for Luka (and Flagg?)

The goal, sources indicate, is to find someone who will collaborate with the rest of the organization and buy into Ujiri’s vision. That vision likely includes building around Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, as a championship centerpiece alongside Luka Dončić. A high-profile hire with his own ideas about roster control could muddy that plan.

An internal promotion, on the other hand, keeps things clean. It signals to the locker room that the franchise believes in its existing culture and wants to evolve, not restart. It also avoids the kind of power struggle that can happen when a marquee name arrives expecting a seat at the trade table.

The Mavericks have not confirmed any candidate or finalized a shortlist. But if history under Ujiri is any guide, the next head coach in Dallas is already in the building — and that might be the best thing for everyone.