What happened: Marc Spears said Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant under Nick Nurse in Philadelphia. Handy and Josh Broghamer were the final holdovers from Jason Kidd’s Dallas staff.
Why it matters: Dusty May took over the Mavericks in June and is set to enter his first NBA season with an entirely new staff. The change removes the last bench continuity from Kidd’s tenure ahead of 2026-27.
By the numbers: May inherited two staff holdovers: Handy and Broghamer. Broghamer’s departure and Handy’s pending move would reduce that total to zero.
What to watch: Handy’s deal must be completed before he formally joins Nurse’s staff. Dallas can now finalize May’s rebuilt coaching group for training camp.