The Dallas Mavericks entered the final three days before the 2026 NBA Draft still without a head coach. Jason Kidd was dismissed a little over a month ago, and the front office, team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz, has taken a deliberately quiet approach to the search. Their interview slate has already featured several of the league’s top assistants, reflecting a desire to find a long-term architect before the draft’s first pick is announced.

Two names that have newly surfaced are Noah LaRoche and Steve Hetzel. LaRoche is currently a consultant with the Miami Heat after serving as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2024-25 season. Hetzel, meanwhile, is based in Brooklyn and has been circulating among NBA assistant coaches, adding his perspective to the pool of candidates the Mavericks are evaluating.

LaRoche’s résumé is anchored in Miami’s offensive surge last season. The Heat operated at one of the fastest paces in the league and posted the second-highest scoring total, a performance the organization credits in part to schematic tweaks that LaRoche helped devise. His recent stint in Memphis exposed him to positionless lineups and a willingness to adapt schemes to varied personnel, experience that could translate to flexibility on the Mavericks’ floor.

For a roster built around Luka Dončić’s playmaking, a coach who understands how to accelerate tempo and create spacing could amplify the star’s strengths. LaRoche’s background suggests he can design a system that emphasizes rapid ball movement and high-percentage looks, potentially addressing Dallas’ occasional reliance on half-court sets. If the Mavericks adopt a faster style, they could open new pick-and-roll angles and off-ball actions for their supporting cast.

Hetzel’s Brooklyn experience offers a contrasting angle. While his résumé is less public, his presence in the league’s assistant circles indicates familiarity with defensive schemes and player development, a combination the Mavericks have identified as areas needing improvement. Adding a coach who emphasizes defensive intensity could help the team shore up a secondary scoring option and build a more consistent identity on that end of the floor.

Ujiri and Schmitz have shown a pattern of interviewing top assistants, a process that previously included candidates such as Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Michigan’s Dusty May. Their methodical, low-profile approach underscores a franchise strategy that values cultural fit as much as tactical acumen. With the draft looming, Dallas is expected to make its coaching decision before the first pick, setting the tone for a season that hopes to blend Dončić’s playmaking with a clear, cohesive system.