Reports indicate Klay Thompson is on the verge of officially signing with the Miami Heat, though that news was quickly pushed aside by a fresh blow to Dallas. As the Mavericks work to build around Cooper Flagg and await Kyrie Irving’s return, their rebuild took another hit: veteran NBA insider Marc J. Spears reports that three-time champion assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to join Nick Nurse’s staff with the Philadelphia 76ers. The news has already drawn strong reactions from across the Dallas community.

The reactions came in direct response to Spears’ initial report, which detailed Handy’s upcoming move to Philadelphia:

“Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to become an assistant coach with Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, a source said. Handy previously worked with Nurse in Toronto and with LeBron James with the Cavs and Lakers. Great addition for Nurse.”

Local Mavs beat writers expressed deep concern over what Phil Handy’s departure signifies for the franchise’s locker room culture. Ron Harrod Jr. captured the immediate anxiety across the fanbase in a post.

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“This is a way bigger loss than Klay Thompson. A BIG loss for the Mavericks.”

It hits harder since fans watched the buildup to Klay’s exit only to be blindsided by Handy’s departure. Harrod’s colleague and fellow sports writer Kevin Gray Jr. echoed that sentiment and added the critical timing of Handy’s move to Philly, right as Kyrie is set to return.

“Kyrie Irving and Phil Handy are very close this is a loss for the Mavericks in more ways than one #MFFL”

Irving is returning to an unfamiliar lineup that no longer includes fellow veterans Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, among others. While he’s supposed to be the anchor for Cooper Flagg, his connection to Phil Handy, since their history in Cleveland, was expected to help him re-adapt to the NBA rigor.

Handy, widely regarded as one of the premier player development and skill coaches in the NBA, spent just one season in Dallas as a holdover from former head coach Jason Kidd’s staff. Players turn to him for elite handles and shot creation, but he also established team chemistry with veterans like Kyrie Irving and younger pieces like Max Christie.

While new Mavericks head coach Dusty May and executive vice president Masai Ujiri have embarked on a complete revamp of the franchise’s coaching staff and front office, Handy was originally expected to remain as a stabilizing bridge.

Instead, Handy opted for a different reunion in Philadelphia. He reunites with Nurse, with whom he won the 2019 title in Toronto, and LeBron James, with whom he won rings in Cleveland (2016) and Los Angeles (2020).

For Dallas, the coaching loss comes on the heels of a chaotic offseason in which the team agreed to a buyout with Thompson. However, as Harrod and Gray emphasized, losing Handy may inflict more serious long-term damage than losing Thompson.

While the roster shifts toward building around Flagg, maintaining stability for Irving remains paramount. Handy served as a key confidant for Irving on the bench, making his departure a subtle yet significant blow to the team’s internal hierarchy.