Will Dallas Mavericks win the race to sign James Borrego as their top assistant?

The Dallas Mavericks are making changes after a disappointing season. They have already added former Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey to their front office, and have created an opening on their coaching staff. It appears general manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd are safe, but the franchise plans to further shake things up before the start of the 2023-24 season.

Former head coaches James Borrego and Jeff Hornacek are rumored to be targets for their opening as an assistant, but Dallas still has work to do. It appears Borrego is being heavily targeted.

Marc Stein reported the Mavericks are one of at least four teams going after (subscription required) the former Hornets head coach. Dallas has one thing those other organizations cannot match, but will it be enough to land the 45-year-old?

Will Dallas Mavericks win the race to sign James Borrego as their top assistant?

Stein notes the Pelicans want Borrego, and it appears the Nets and Rockets will also have interest in him for an assistant coaching role. The 45-year-old does not appear to be in line for any of the head coach openings. He sat out last season after being let go by the Hornets in 2022. Is willing to take a role as a top assistant?

Borrego spent four years as the head coach in Charlotte where he went 148-183. The Hornets made back-to-back Play-In Tournament appearances, but they could not break through and qualify for the playoffs. In his final season, the Hornets finished eighth in offensive rating and fifth in pace. James Borrego did an underrated job in Charlotte, and he should be a hot commodity on the coaching market.

Luka Doncic is the Dallas Mavericks' advantage when targeting any offensive-minded coach. It is the opportunity to coach one of the best players in the world, and Dallas is hoping to bring back Kyrie Irving in free agency. It is ultimately the eight-time All-Star's decision on where to play next season, but Borrego could have a superstar backcourt to work with if he joins the Mavs.

Fans were frustrated by head coach Jason Kidd’s lack of ingenuity on the offensive end. The Mavericks always ran the same play at the end of the game. Dallas was fantastic after timeouts in 2022, but that production appeared to slip this season. The Mavs also struggled to close out games as their offense ground to a halt.

James Borrego could provide a spark to an incredibly talented offense. The Dallas Mavericks were 28th in pace last season. Luka Doncic is never going to play fast, but Borrego could help them speed things up a bit and get some easy buckets in transition. Number 77 is the best offensive creator in the halfcourt, and the Mavs could lead the league in offensive rating with a few minor tweaks.

Dallas has not decided on who will replace Greg St. Jean on their coaching staff next season. James Borrego is in the running, and he should be considered the favorite at this point. Will they sign him? Stay tuned to find out.