Longtime NBA veteran Jared Dudley nearing deal to join Mavericks’ coaching staff, per report

After the announcement that the Dallas Mavericks were bringing on two-time WNBA champion Kristi Tolliver as an assistant coach staff last week, it sounds like the team isn’t done filling out its coaching staff. The Mavericks are in advanced talks to hire Jared Dudley as an assistant coach, per longtime NBA insider Marc Stein.

It was previously reported by Yahoo’s Chris Haynes that the Los Angeles Lakers were not planning on bringing Dudley back as a player, making him a free agent. However, Dallas appears to be convincing the 14-year NBA veteran to transition into a coaching career under Jason Kidd. 

Kidd served as an assistant with the Lakers for the past two seasons, so the connection to Dudley makes sense. It’s also a smart move by the Mavericks, as Dudley has been a vocal leader in L.A.’s locker room and in previous stints around the league. His presence on Dallas’ coaching staff can provide this young team with a veteran voice who just finished playing in the league, and serve as a bridge between the players and the coaches.

Adding Dudley is just the latest move in what has been an overhaul of the Mavericks coaching staff and front office this summer. Longtime general manager Donnie Nelson and head coach Rick Carlisle stepped down following another first-round exit in the playoffs and an explosive article detailing the dysfunction that existed within the franchise. That led Dallas to bring in former Nike executive Nico Harrison as the new head of basketball operations, and hire Kidd as the head coach. 

Dallas is hoping that these moves will help move the needle in the direction of more success in the postseason and in free agency — two areas where this franchise has failed for the better part of the last decade.