What happens when the foundation starts to shift, just as the structure begins to settle? That’s the question Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks may be forced to answer this summer. The pressure is real, the whispers are getting louder, and suddenly, it’s not just about Cooper Flagg or the roster, but about the sideline. Because if the man calling the shots might not be there for long, what does that mean for everyone else?

Jason Kidd’s coaching run in Dallas has been a rollercoaster of redemption, results, and now, potential reckoning. After leading the Mavs to a surprise Finals appearance in 2024, his seat seemed secure. But fast forward to 2025: Kidd is fresh off a rollercoaster season, and now, Knicks rumors have officially entered the chat.

According to recent speculation, New York could make a run at Kidd if their own coaching carousel spins again. And just when things couldn’t get more uncertain, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly “secured permission” to interview Jared Dudley, who just happens to be one of Kidd’s closest allies, for a spot on David Adelman’s staff.

The report, via NBA insider Marc Stein, may look harmless on the surface. But it’s far from it. Dudley isn’t just any assistant. He’s been a vital voice behind the scenes, a link between the locker room and the coaching staff, and a trusted tactical mind for Kidd since their time together. If Dudley leaves, it won’t just be a standard coaching move. Nope. It’ll be a crack in Kidd’s inner circle. And with Kidd’s own name hovering in rumor territory, the optics here aren’t subtle. And well, Kidd’s path as a head coach hasn’t exactly been smooth.

After wrapping up a one-year stint as a player in New York during the 2012–13 season, Kidd immediately transitioned into coaching, taking over the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. That leap from floor general to head coach within weeks raised eyebrows, but it also marked the start of his sideline era. He’d go on to coach the Milwaukee Bucks, helping develop a young Giannis Antetokounmpo, before eventually landing in Dallas, where he was instrumental in shaping Luka Dončić’s rise. But with Knicks rumors swirling again, and his past ties to Madison Square Garden still lingering, it’s fair to wonder… could a full-circle moment be brewing?

But if the internal support system around him starts to dissolve, does that signal the beginning of the end? What’s more intriguing is the timing. The Mavericks just wrapped a season that exposed their flaws, both internally and on the court. Trading your franchise player, injuries to half the roster, questions around the team’s identity, rotation patterns, and overall resilience. This wasn’t a team that just lost. It looked like a team that had no clear roadmap. And Kidd, despite his prior success, didn’t have the answers this time.

That’s what makes Dudley’s potential departure feel bigger than it looks. It raises real concerns about the locker room. Is there quiet discontent brewing? Is Kidd losing grip behind the scenes? Or is this simply an ambitious assistant pursuing a strong opportunity, or a signal that things are unraveling faster than the Mavs can control?

Kidd’s right-hand man might be eyeing the exit

Jared Dudley’s name doesn’t make national headlines often. But within NBA circles, his rise from respected veteran player to assistant coach has been widely applauded. He’s considered a culture-setter, someone players trust and coaches rely on. Which is why Denver’s interest, under incoming head coach David Adelman, makes perfect sense as they’re trying to fill big shoes and reinforce a championship culture.

But for Dallas, this isn’t just about losing a bright basketball mind. It’s about what it says regarding their current direction. If Dudley is ready to walk, does he see the writing on the wall? Is he bracing for a Kidd exit… or at least for turbulence ahead?

This is the moment when the dominoes can start falling fast. If Kidd’s name continues to circulate in connection with other teams, and his staff begins thinning out, it could be the start of a coaching transition in real time. And when that happens, nothing stays untouched—not the strategy, not the player development, not the culture.

One assistant leaving may seem like a footnote. But in this case? It feels more like the first sentence of a new chapter. Keep an eye on Dallas, people. Because between Jason Kidd’s uncertain future and Jared Dudley’s potential exit, the Mavericks might be staring down an offseason storm that’s only just begun.