Mavericks’ best Jason Kidd replacement option suddenly off the table

After abruptly parting ways with Jason Kidd over a week ago, new team president Masai Ujiri was tasked with finding the Dallas Mavericks’ next head coach as the franchise transitions into the Cooper Flagg era. But a potential top candidate, former Mavericks assistant and current San Antonio Spurs lead assistant coach, Sean Sweeney, is now off the board as the Orlando Magic reportedly plan to make him their next head coach.

Sweeney was most Mavericks fans' No. 1 target to replace Kidd, and it was a bit of a shocker that he was hired by the Magic now. He was widely viewed as a potential head-coaching candidate around the league, but with the Spurs being in the Western Conference Finals, this hire came out of nowhere ahead of tomorrow's Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He made too much sense for the Mavericks to ignore. His knowledge of the game, combined with his incredible experience as a defensive coordinator, made the up-and-coming guru the Mavericks' best potential fit as they look for a new head coach. Sweeney would've been taking over a team that has several great defenders, and he'd be building around one of the league's best young off-ball disruptors in Cooper Flagg. It was a match made in heaven.

Dallas missed out on someone who already has a strong relationship with some of their current players, and now they have to look elsewhere.

Mavericks lose out on Sean Sweeney as coaching search takes hit

Sweeney spent four seasons in Dallas alongside Kidd, acting as a top assistant and de facto defensive coordinator. However, following the Mavericks’ turbulent 2024–25 campaign, Sweeney departed to join the up-and-coming Spurs — a move that now looks well-timed, with San Antonio just one win away from an NBA Finals appearance.

Sweeney has parlayed his successful stint in San Antonio into a full-time head coaching opportunity, but this isn’t the first time he’s drawn head coaching interest. He has previously interviewed for openings with both the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns, though he remained an assistant until now.

While there was no direct reporting indicating mutual interest between the Mavericks and Sweeney, it’s reasonable to believe Dallas would have had some level of interest in bringing him back. He was highly regarded as a top assistant and well respected within the organization.

Why Sweeney would be viewed as a strong fit for the Mavericks

Dallas reached both the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals with Sweeney on staff, while consistently fielding one of the league’s better defenses despite a roster lacking elite individual defenders.

Moreover, players like Dereck Lively II have praised Sweeney as a difference-maker in his development, saying, “So just knowing where I started to where I am now. I wouldn’t be here without Sweene.” Despite being known primarily for his defensive acumen, Lively II also credited the now-Magic head coach with helping expand his offensive game, including developing an off-hand hook shot he didn’t previously have entering the NBA.

Sweeney, only 41, has a well-established reputation not only as a defensive wizard, but also as a player development coach — traits that would have made him a strong candidate had the Mavericks tabbed him as their next head coach.

Unlike much of Sweeney’s tenure in Dallas, the Mavericks now feature several strong individual defenders. With Flagg, Caleb Martin, P.J. Washington, and multiple solid interior pieces, Sweeney would have had a defensive core tailor-made for his system — one that shares some similarities with what he’ll inherit in Orlando.

Moreover, as a young coach known for his developmental abilities, he would have inherited one of the NBA’s youngest teams, one that is set to get even younger with three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mavericks forced to pivot as coaching market tightens

While it seemed Dallas may have had more time to pursue Sweeney, given his past relationship with the franchise and his current role with the Spurs, that window appears to have closed quickly.

The Mavericks will now have to pivot elsewhere in their head coaching search, with the NBA Draft less than a month away. With Sweeney off the board, Dallas will need to get creative in its search, exploring veteran options like Billy Donovan as well as first-time candidates such as Minnesota assistant Micah Nori to find its next head coach.

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