The NBA coaching carousel continues to spin this offseason, and Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley is emerging as a popular name on multiple teams’ radar.
According to veteran insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Cleveland Cavaliers have now joined the list of franchises showing interest in Dudley, who is also being monitored by the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns.
Cleveland’s interest comes amid a wave of coaching turnover within the organization. As noted by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cavaliers have several staff vacancies to fill following the departures of three assistants, Jordan Ott, DeMarre Carroll, and Bryan Tibaldi, all of whom have recently taken jobs elsewhere.
In addition, Chris Darnell, who served as the Cavs’ head coach in the G League, has accepted a new position with the Sacramento Kings, further widening the coaching gap in Cleveland.
With so many seats now open on the Cavaliers’ bench, the front office is casting a wide net to find proven contributors.
Dudley, a former NBA veteran known for his leadership and basketball IQ during his playing days, has steadily built a reputation as a rising coaching talent since joining Dallas in 2021 under head coach Jason Kidd.
Scotto also adds an intriguing new name to watch in the Cavaliers’ coaching search: Jawad Williams, a familiar face to Cleveland fans.
A former forward for the Cavaliers during the LeBron James era, Williams has transitioned into coaching and is currently serving as both an assistant and director of player development with the Sacramento Kings.
His ties to the city and growing résumé in player development could make him an attractive candidate for a team with young core pieces like Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.
Meanwhile, Johnnie Bryant, the Cavaliers’ lead assistant, recently received serious consideration for the Phoenix Suns head coaching role, where he was a finalist alongside former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott.
However, despite the external attention, Bryant is expected to remain in Cleveland for the 2025–26 season, per Scotto’s report.
With a blend of internal continuity and fresh perspectives potentially on the way, the Cavaliers seem focused on assembling a dynamic and development-minded staff to support head coach J.B. Bickerstaff – or potentially a new head coach, depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds.
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