Sean Sweeney was viewed as a popular candidate in Dallas, but his move to Orlando leaves the Mavericks’ coaching search wide open.
The Dallas Mavericks lost their shot at a most popular coaching candidate on Friday.
So, what's next?
Sean Sweeney, the former Mavericks assistant who spent four seasons under Jason Kidd before leaving to become associate head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is being hired as the head coach of the Orlando Magic.
Sweeney was widely viewed as the fan favorite for the Dallas job. He was familiar with the organization, helped build the defenses that carried Dallas to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and 2024 NBA Finals, and helped transform San Antonio from 25th to third in defensive rating in a single season. He was also a major part of the staff that helped Victor Wembanyama win Defensive Player of the Year.
Orlando moved quickly and Dallas now needs to pivot. Our Mike Fisher has named Nick Nurse as a top possibility here. But in addition to that, With Sweeney off the board, here are three names that should be near the top of the Mavericks’ list.
Micah Nori
Nori may be the most intriguing option still available. The 51-year-old has spent 17 years as an NBA assistant with Toronto, Sacramento, Denver, Detroit and Minnesota. NBA general managers have voted him the league’s top assistant coach in each of the past two seasons. He built strong relationships with both Nikola Jokic in Denver and Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, two stars with very different personalities. That ability to connect with players could be valuable for a Dallas team building around Cooper Flagg.
Nori is currently a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers job, meaning Dallas would likely need to move quickly if he becomes the preferred candidate.
Billy Donovan
Donovan resigned from Chicago on April 21 after six seasons and immediately became one of the most accomplished coaches available. Before his stint with the Bulls, Donovan led Oklahoma City to consecutive 50-win seasons and consistently guided competitive teams through difficult roster transitions.
He was also a finalist for the Orlando opening before the Magic selected Sweeney, reinforcing his standing around the league. For a Mavericks team centered around a 20-year-old franchise cornerstone in Flagg, Donovan’s experience developing younger rosters could make him an attractive option.
Frank Vogel
Vogel spent this past season as Kidd’s lead assistant in Dallas after serving as a consultant the previous year. No available candidate knows the roster, staff and organization better.
Vogel won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and led the Indiana Pacers to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014. He owns a 480-422 record as a head coach and has built his reputation around defense throughout his career. His familiarity with the Mavericks could make for a seamless transition. Kidd served as Vogel’s assistant during the Lakers’ championship season before the two reversed roles in Dallas.
With Sweeney now in Orlando and the Bulls, Trail Blazers and Mavericks all searching simultaneously, the coaching market is moving quickly. Dallas will likely want this resolved before the June 23 draft so its next coach has a voice in roster decisions from Day 1.
