Mavericks' coaching search has an optimal solution many fans are overlooking

Going big-game hunting always seems like the best solution when it comes to pretty much anything in the NBA. Just look at the Dallas Mavericks' recent hire of Masai Ujiri as team president. Nonetheless, despite Dallas' latest power play, making the splashiest move isn't always the right answer. The Mavericks have been linked to premier collegiate coaches to fill their head coaching vacancy, but a smarter solution is hiring a respected up-and-coming assistant, and Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey is an excellent option.

Ivey has spent the last 10 seasons as an assistant coach in Oklahoma City, New York, and, most recently, Houston. Yet despite a decade of NBA coaching experience and a lengthy playing career, the former NBA veteran has largely been overlooked as a head coaching candidate that not many fans are talking about.

Why the Mavericks must look beyond college coaching candidates

Rather than discussing Ivey as a potential replacement for Jason Kidd, even after he was linked to the Mavs in a report, Mavericks fans have largely been enamored with current Duke head coach Jon Scheyer and Michigan's Dusty May. And, before he accepted Orlando's head coaching job, former San Antonio Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney also generated considerable interest among the fan base.

Yet, in the grand scheme of things, a coach with Ivey's résumé makes plenty of sense for the Mavericks. For starters, the aforementioned alternatives are all current collegiate coaches, and that path hasn't exactly produced consistent NBA success. While Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan could be cited as success stories, highly accomplished college coaches such as Fred Hoiberg, John Beilein, and others struggled to make the transition to the professional ranks.

Royal Ivey’s overlooked path as an NBA assistant coach

While the collegiate and professional games are becoming more similar thanks to NIL, Ivey still possesses something those coaches don't — a decade of experience on an NBA bench.

The 10-year NBA veteran has worked alongside some of the league's biggest stars, including Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and even current Maverick Kyrie Irving. Moreover, Ivey has consistently been regarded as one of the NBA's top assistants, receiving votes in each of the last three annual general manager surveys for the league's best assistant coach.

As a former All-Big 12 defender himself, Ivey has long been known for his defensive mindset, and that philosophy has been reflected in the teams he's coached. For instance, the Rockets have ranked among the NBA's top 10 in defensive rating in each of the past three seasons — a track record the Mavericks would undoubtedly welcome, considering their defensive struggles.

How Ivey’s defensive system fits the Mavericks’ roster

Ivey has already worked with a similarly constructed, jumbo-sized roster in Houston, making him a natural fit for Dallas' personnel. Given his defensive track record, it's not far-fetched to believe he could help maximize Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks' lineup on the less glamorous end of the floor.

However, aside from the philosophical fit, Ivey also offers a different profile as a potential first-time head coach. At just 44 years old, he'd bring a younger voice to the sidelines while still possessing more than a decade of NBA coaching experience. That combination of relatability and credibility would prove invaluable for a young Mavericks team still searching for its next leader.

All in all, while a more proven head coach or an offensive-minded guru might seem like the ideal fit in Dallas, Ivey profiles as a strong candidate because of his NBA experience, defensive-first outlook, and fresh perspective as a first-time head coach.

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