Jared Dudley’s departure from the Lakers playing roster was not a surprise given reports leading up to this week’s decision. That Dudley was not retained in any capacity by the Lakers this summer, though, is a more surprising development.
Announced on his own Twitter account, Dudley joined the Mavericks coaching staff alongside former Lakers assistant Jason Kidd. Given how close he had grown with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Dudley not staying in Los Angeles does come as a moderate surprise.
Bill Plaschke’s piece in the LA Times on Thursday revealed that the Lakers did not offer Dudley a coaching role.