New Mavs Rumors Reveal Duke's Scheyer, Michigan's Dusty May & More HC Targets to Replace Jason Kidd
The Dallas Mavericks could be targeting some of the NCAA's highest-profile men's basketball coaches in their search to replace Jason Kidd, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported Thursday.
According to Stein, the Mavericks have held "exploratory conversation" with Duke's Jon Scheyer and Michigan's Dusty May "to try to determine if there is any interest."
Stein reported that it "remains to be seen" whether Scheyer or May would consider leaving their college programs, and that the Mavericks hiring an NBA assistant is "a more realistic outcome."
Stein reported on Sunday that "indications are strong" that Scheyer is not looking to leave Duke for the NBA, even for a chance to reunite with Cooper Flagg.
Meanwhile, one coach told Stein: "When you add up salary, power, influence and the budget a team like Michigan has to go after top recruits, Dusty May pretty much has an NBA job right now."
The Mavericks have interest in assistants including the Minnesota Timberwolves' Micah Nori, Houston Rockets' Royal Ivey, Toronto Rockets' Jama Mahlalela and Boston Celtics' Tony Dobbins as well as Miami Heat consultant Noah LaRoche, Stein reported.
Former Atlanta Hawks coach Terry Stotts is also expected to get an interview, Stein reported.
Kidd and the Mavericks parted ways in May after four seasons, which ended with two missed postseasons following the franchise's decision to trade Luka Donฤiฤ in February 2025.
May just agreed to a new contract extension with Michigan, and Scheyer is under contract at Duke through the 2030-31 season.
The Mavericks previously reached out to former San Antonio Spurs associate coach Sean Sweeney, who was at that point already in the process of being hired by the Orlando Magic, Stein reported.
Stein also added other NBA coaches expect Mavericks president Masai Ujiri will to "explore his options in both the European and women's game."
That expectation could be because of Ujiri's past work to replace Nick Nurse as head coach the Toronto Raptors, where he worked before he was hired in May by the Mavericks.
That head coaching search ahead of the 2023-24 season involved Ujiri speaking with multiple candidates outside of the NBA, per Sportsnet's Michael Grange.
Ujiri's 2023 interview list included J.J. Redick, who was then a broadcaster, as well as Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Real Madrid head coach Sergio Scariolo.
The Raptors ultimately went with a candidate with NBA assistant coaching experience, but no previous head coaching experience, in Darko Rajakovic.
"I think our minds are very open. We're going to look everywhere," Ujiri said in May about his head coaching search (h/t NBA.com's Eddie Sefko).
Ujiri continued: "We will really try to look at what's best for this organization, be it first-time, be it experienced, be it college, be it European. Everywhere."
The Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers are also still searching for a head coach this offseason.
