Latest on Mavericks’ coaching search

“I haven’t heard anything really from Dallas,” Nori said during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Nori’s name surfaced as a possible candidate in part because of his connections to key figures within the Mavericks organization. New team president Ethan Casson spent more than nine years with the Timberwolves before joining Dallas, while Nori also briefly crossed paths with Mavericks governor Masai Ujiri during their time with the Raptors organization.

Those ties led some around the league to wonder if Nori might emerge as a serious candidate. At least for now, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Nori indicated he has received some interest from other teams, including Chicago and Portland, though he described those conversations as being in the early stages as well.

Meanwhile, Dallas continues to keep its plans largely under wraps.

The Mavericks would ideally like to have a coach in place before the June draft, allowing that person to have input on roster decisions and the selection process. However, there has been little public indication regarding who may be leading the search or which candidates have advanced furthest.

Several assistants around the league have been mentioned as possibilities, including Johnnie Bryant, Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley. More experienced names such as Billy Donovan and Frank Vogel have also been floated in various reports and league speculation.

Still, though, the Mavericks appear content to operate quietly.

With Cooper Flagg expected to headline Dallas’ future and the franchise entering a pivotal offseason, finding the right coach remains one of the organization’s biggest priorities.

The only certainty at the moment is that time is beginning to tick toward draft night.