Mavericks Head Coach Odds: The Race is Wade Open

There's no doubt that the past few years of Dallas basketball have been an abject failure. After trading away Luka Doncic last season and watching Jalen Brunson take home a ring, the reset button was long overdue.

The first step in this process was bringing in former Raptors exec Masai Ujiri, whose first order of business was to part ways with Head Coach Jason Kidd.

Now, Masai needs a new captain to right the ship, lest they waste Cooper Flagg like Doncic and Brunson before him. Let's dig into the odds, courtesy of Kalshi.

Most prediction markets currently have this as a tight battle between Donovan and Stotts, but they're nowhere near locks.

Since leaving Portland in 2021, Stotts has had short Assistant Coaching stints with the Bucks and Warriors. He was an assistant in Dallas for four years, from 2008-2012, including the organization's sole championship season. After nearly a decade of success in Portland, he would be a solid, if unexciting, candidate.

Billy Donovan's candidacy is a bit different, as he's fresh off a six-year stint as Chicago's Head Coach. He immediately became one of the biggest names on the coaching market, given his track record of success at both the collegiate and pro levels. An extremely well-respected coach who has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame would be seen as a big plus for a young team in need of rebuilding their program.

Other candidates also receiving some buzz include former Milwaukee Coach Mike Budenholzer, Miami Assistant Chris Quinn, and Boston Assistant Sam Cassell. Quinn is probably the most exciting candidate to Mavs fans, given his age (just 42) and the fact that he's blocked behind Spoelstra in Miami.

However, I personally would be interested in seeing Sam Cassell finally get the reins. The former All-Star point guard has been an Assistant Coach in the NBA since 2008, but has seemingly never got serious looks as a Head Coach despite working on some very successful staffs. He is also noted for his great relationships with players and skills as a developer, such as his well-documented mentorship of Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey. 

While Stotts and Donovan may be the top dogs right now, these other candidates could very well end up being the name Masai calls.