The Dallas Mavericks are quietly making crucial offseason moves—on and off the court. After a headline-grabbing summer that featured the additions of Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, and Deandre Ayton, the Mavs are doubling down on continuity and championship pedigree.

Let’s start with the bench—literally. Frank Vogel, the 2020 NBA Championship-winning head coach, is finalizing a deal to join the Mavericks as lead assistant under Jason Kidd. Vogel brings elite defensive scheming and postseason poise to a team now stocked with talent but still searching for system-level consistency.

Meanwhile, player development guru God Shammgod is departing Dallas after five seasons to join the Orlando Magic as an assistant coach. Shammgod was widely credited with refining Luka Dončić’s footwork and handles in his early NBA years. His departure is a quiet loss, but one the Mavs will absorb with experience and new leadership like Vogel’s.

Back on the court, Dante Exum is running it back with Dallas on a one-year deal. The Australian guard, who impressed last season as a secondary ball-handler and tough defender, returns to help stabilize the backcourt while D’Angelo Russell finds his rhythm in a new system. Exum shot over 48% from the field and played key playoff minutes—his decision to reject offers from other contenders speaks volumes about his trust in the Mavs’ vision.

However, it wasn’t all good news in Dallas. Spencer Dinwiddie—who started 56 games for the Mavericks last year and averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 assists—has signed a one-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte gets a steady veteran who can lead a young backcourt and create offense in crunch time.

For Dallas, it’s a tradeoff. While Dinwiddie’s departure stings, the combination of Exum, DLo, Luka, and perhaps even a midseason Kyrie Irving return still gives the Mavericks an elite mix of playmakers.

As the West gets stronger, these little details—assistant hires, veteran role players—may be the difference between another first-round exit or a Finals run. Dallas knows this. And they’re acting like it.