8 Veteran coach options the Dallas Mavericks could add to their bench

The Dallas Mavericks are shaking things up after a disappointing season. General manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd are safe just one year after leading the team to the conference finals, but changes are coming around them. Former Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey is joining the front office, and news broke on Wednesday evening that assistant coach Greg St. Jean will not return for the 2023-2024 season.

The Mavs are rumored to be looking to add more experience to their coaching staff, and Callie Caplan reported that more changes could be ahead. Igor Kokoskov was a key part of the Mavericks' offense in 2022, but he left for Brooklyn after their conference finals run with St. Jean getting promoted to the front of the bench. Dallas would benefit tremendously from an offensive-minded coach that could help make things flow.

With Dallas in search of experience, who could they be targeting for their open role on the bench? Here are eight names with head coaching experience that could join the Mavericks.

Veteran coaches Dallas Mavericks can bring on as an assistant

8. Nick Nurse

Nurse was fired by the Raptors after their Play-In Tournament exit, and it is unclear if the 55-year-old wants to jump back to coaching next season. He led the Raptors to a championship in 2019 and amassed a 227-163 record in his five years leading Toronto.

Nurse’s resume speaks for itself, and he is known for his tactics and outside-the-box thinking. That is exactly what Jason Kidd needs on his staff, but would Nurse be willing to take on an assistant role in Dallas under the Hall of Fame point guard? Nurse did spend five years as an assistant in Toronto before taking over as head coach.

Nick Nurse is the freshest fired head coach available, but there is no shortage of options with experience that the Dallas Mavericks could add.

7. James Borrego

Borrego most recently spent four seasons as head coach for the Charlotte Hornets. His teams went 148-183, but they made two Play-In Tournament appearances, and Borrego unlocked the team’s offense. In his final season, the Hornets finished eighth in offensive rating and fifth in pace.

The 45-year-old became known for his ability to develop talent and his team's overachieved on the offensive end of the floor. If Dallas is looking for an assistant that can take their offense to the next level, Borrego was able to do that in Charlotte.

He comes with a wealth of experience. Borrego played at the University of San Diego before getting into coaching. He was with the Spurs from 2003 to 2010 where he worked as a video coordinator and assistant coach. Borrego returned for a second stint under Gregg Popovich in 2015, and he learned a lot from the legendary coach.

James Borrego had spent every season with an NBA team since 2003, except for the 2022-23 campaign. He worked as an assistant for the Spurs, Magic, and Hornets before getting a shot as a head coach. Borrego took one season off to recharge, but he could be eager to get back on the bench. With just the Pistons head coaching gig open, the 45-year-old could take a job as an assistant as he tries to work his way into a second shot.

James Borrego is known as an offensive coach. He may not be the biggest name, but he did an underrated job in Charlotte, and Borrego could be just what the Dallas Mavericks need.

6. Nate McMillan

McMillan is approaching four decades in the NBA. He was drafted in the second round in 1986 by the Seattle SuperSonics where he played his entire 12-year career. The 6’5 guard mostly came off the bench, but he did lead the league in steals per game in 1994. After retiring, he immediately joined the Sonics' coaching staff.

McMillan got his first chance as head coach just three years after hanging up his sneakers. He led Seattle to a 212-183 record over five years, including two playoff appearances. He immediately went on to be the Blazers' head coach for seven years after leaving the Sonics. McMillan was part of a rebuild but got Portland back to the playoffs after three years in charge.

McMillian spent three years as an associate head coach in Indiana from 2014 to 2016 before spending four years as their head coach. He was assistant for less than one year before taking over for Lloyd Pierce in Atlanta. McMillian spent parts of three seasons leading the Hawks before being fired midway through the 2022-2023 campaign.

Nate McMillian has 19 years of head coaching experience plus another five as an assistant. He led the Hawks to the conference finals in 2021 and battled Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA Finals during his playing days. McMillan is a veteran coach that would bring a ton of NBA experience to Dallas.

5. Dave Joerger

Joerger is in his third year as an assistant coach in Philadelphia under Doc Rivers, so the Mavericks would have to convince him to leave the Sixers to come to Dallas. The 49-year-old played college basketball before becoming a coach. He spent a decade working his way to the NBA, including leading his team to a G League championship in 2007.

Joerger got his first chance as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007 under Marc Iavaroni. He stayed when Lionel Hollins took over and after six years as an assistant got his first NBA head coaching gig in 2013. Joerger spent three years as Grizzlies head coach where he went 147-99 and led Memphis to the playoffs three times before jumping ship to Sacramento in 2016.

Joerger could not end the Kings' playoff drought and was fired after three forgettable years. Sacramento arguably overperformed given their roster, but they just did not have enough talent.

He is an offensive coach that has had success running different styles. Could Joerger find a way to maximize the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving partnership? It could be a dream job for any coach looking to showcase their ability to draw things up.

Some believed Dallas should have been interested when they were hiring a head coach in 2021. Could they convince Joerger to come over in an associate head coach role where he runs the offense? It is certainly worth exploring.

4. Stephen Silas

The Mavericks had the best offensive rating in the NBA the last time Silas was an assistant coach in Dallas. He spent two seasons with the Mavericks from 2018 to 2020 where the NBA lifer was offensive coordinator. Silas is familiar with Luka Doncic, and he helped the 24-year-old go from Rookie of the Year to first-team All-NBA in his two seasons with the Mavericks.

Silas spent two decades as an assistant coach before finally getting a chance to led a team. He is the son of NBA legend Paul Silas, and Stephen’s coaching resume speaks for itself.

His three years leading the Rockets did not go as planned, but it was also not what Silas signed up for when he took the job. The 49-year-old coached James Harden for eight games before he was traded to Brooklyn. Houston embraced a total rebuild following his departure, which led Silas to win just 59 games over his three seasons in charge.

The Dallas Mavericks should be interested in bringing Stephen Silas back. He has already had success with Luka, and Silas is a strong offensive coach with tons of experience. It could be the perfect fit if head coach Jason Kidd is willing to bring him onto his staff.

3. Mike D’Antoni

Looking for an offensive coach with a ton of experience? D’Antoni may offer the maximum amount of both. The 71-year-old played four years in the NBA before going overseas for a 13-season career at Olimpia Milano where he became the team’s all-time leading scorer. After retiring in 1990, D’Antoni immediately jumped in as their head coach.

He spent seven years as a head coach in Europe before returning to the NBA as an assistant for the Denver Nuggets. It lasted just one season before his one season as head coach in 1999. D’Antoni bounced around for a few years before becoming a legend with the Suns. His Seven Seconds or Less offense made Steve Nash an MVP and helped Phoenix reach the conference finals in 2005 and 2006.

D’Antoni went on to coach the Knicks, Lakers, and Rockets. In Houston, he helped James Harden become an MVP as the Rockets went 217-101 in his four seasons in charge.

There is zero questioning Mike D’Antoni’s coaching resume, but would he be interested in coming to Dallas as an assistant? He has a history with Jason Kidd, but the chance to coach Luka Doncic may be enticing. D’Antoni helped Nash and Harden become MVPs. Could he unlock the best version of Doncic too? Luka is often compared to Harden, so D’Antoni may have some insider knowledge that can lift number 77 to a new level.

2. Terry Stotts

Stotts was a Mavericks assistant under Rick Carlisle from 2008 to 2012, including being a key piece of the team’s 2011 championship. He was the offensive coordinator in Dallas, and that run with Dirk Nowitzki propelled Stotts into the head coaching gig with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Stotts had a decade-long professional playing career mostly in Europe before becoming a coach. He spent nine years as an assistant in the NBA before getting a crack to be the Hawks’ head coach. Stotts lasted less than two full seasons and won just 52 of his 137 games at the helm. He was an assistant with Golden State for one year before getting a second chance as a head coach, but his time in Milwaukee lasted just two years too.

Stotts spent nine seasons leading the Blazers as he was responsible for making Damian Lillard a superstar. They both arrived in 2012 and quickly formed a strong partnership. Portland reach the conference finals in 2019 and made eight straight playoff appearances with Stotts in charge.

Terry Stotts has been out of the NBA since 2021, so would the 65-year-old consider coming back to Dallas? He knows Jason Kidd well as the Hall of Famer was the Mavericks' starting point guard for Stotts’ entire tenure in Dallas. Could they reunite on the bench? It is worth guaging the veteran coach's interest.

1. Frank Vogel

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has a recent history and reverence for Vogel. The 49-year-old was the Lakers' head coach with J-Kidd as his assistant as they won the title in 2020. They were back in the playoffs in their second year together, but Vogel was fired after missing the postseason in 2021 after the Hall of Fame point guard moved on to be the head coach in Dallas.

Vogel began coaching in the NBA in 2001. He spent eight years as an assistant before getting a shot to lead the Pacers. Indiana made four straight playoff appearances, including back-to-back runs to the conference finals when Vogel was in charge. He also spent two seasons leading the Orlando Magic before taking the Lakers gig.

Would Frank Vogel be interested in a role as an assistant? He has not been one since 2011 in Indiana. Vogel’s last three jobs were all as a head coach, and the 49-year-old may sit out until someone gives him another chance to be in charge.

Vogel was spotted at Mavericks practice several times this season, and he has a close relationship with Jason Kidd. Could that be enough to add the veteran coach to his staff?

The Dallas Mavericks will have at least one new assistant coach next season and more changes could be coming, so stay tuned for all the latest.