After Marc Stein reported earlier today that the Knicks are expected to seek the Mavericks‘ permission to talk to head coach Jason Kidd about their head coaching job, Ian Begley of SNY.tv and ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon have confirmed as much. New York is “conducting active due diligence” on Kidd, according to Charania and MacMahon.
The question remains whether or not the Mavericks will grant that permission. Sources tell ESPN’s duo that Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and team owner Patrick Dumont haven’t yet discussed whether to allow Kidd and the Knicks to speak to one another. It’s also unclear whether Kidd would have interest in leaving Dallas for New York — he did interview for the Knicks’ job in 2020 before Tom Thibodeau was hired, as Charania and MacMahon note.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is also part of a small group of head coaches already under contract whom the Knicks have interest in, according to Begley. It’s unclear if the Knicks plan to ask the Wolves about talking to Finch, but I can’t imagine Minnesota being very enthusiastic about the possibility.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Following up on ESPN’s reporting about the Knicks dismissing Thibodeau after getting input from players, Begley notes that while that player input was a factor in the team’s decision, Knicks players were respectful of Thibodeau during their end-of-season exit meetings and have a “great deal of admiration” for him. They did point out during those meetings, however, that there were things Thibodeau did during his tenure that could be improved, Begley adds.
- There will be plenty of Jalen Brunson-related subplots to monitor during the Knicks’ head coaching search, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required). As Braziller observes, Brunson has blossomed into a star under Thibodeau and spoke highly of the veteran coach. It remains to be seen how much input the point guard might have in the team’s hiring decision and what the coaching change will mean for his father, assistant coach Rick Brunson.
- The Knicks aren’t expected to make an immediate head coaching hire, a league source tells Steve Popper of Newsday, who details the pressure and expectations that Thibodeau’s replacement will face.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who is the president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, admitted this week that he was shocked by the Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau. “Thibs went in there and changed so much,” Carlisle said (Twitter link via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). “You look at all that and what happened yesterday. When I first saw it I thought it was one of those fake AI things, like, no way. No way possible.”
Not sure about Kidd. He’s gotten better, but just curious as to how his ego for the New York spotlight conflict with players in the locker room. Brooklyn was a good example.
Why does New York want Kidd. He’s done nothing with a better Dallas roster
LOL
It’s the knicks so theres going to be plenty of noise. Surprised Dolan hasn’t really been mentioned. Good for him. Anyway we’ll see. Coach is a member of the team, not the entire squad. Don’t see someone coming in and reinventing them unless the roster also gets overhauled.
Finally agree with Lil Uno,. bad roster construction with very limited wiggle room to do much. Wright.
As much as Rose did amazing things with the roster. He’s killed it too by trading OB1 and Grimes for nothing completely depleted the bench.
OB1 had words with his coach. That was an exit out.
3 available coaches are better than Jason Kidd and Chris Finch
Michael Malone
Frank Vogel (Kidd was his assistant)
Taylor Jenkins
I don’t see Knicks talking to teams coaches. Even if there was mutual interest teams would want something in return. Knicks don’t have it to give up. They have to work on their bench. And certainly could use a shooter.
link to si.com
All this noise about Thibs is all media nonsense. He rebuilt this Knicks team. Did it in 4 yrs. This team that went to East Finals. Was put together this year, Thibs 5th yr. This team has 11 first year players. Thank you coach Thibs …….
Pacers beat and exposed Knicks. Thibs got outcoached. Only Rose never got him a bench. Thibs had all yr to give this bench mins. So he is responsible also. Playing your starters all those mins. Can only work against you in the playoffs. As Pacers showed. Knicks gave away gm1. If they win that game this series is different.
Towns is not becoming a solid defender next year. I promise you he will be scrutinized now that Thibs is gone. So Rose better get him help on D. Rose also has to find a shooter. And find a coach that can deal with this. Expectations now are high in NY. This is a first year team that could have gone to Finals. Its why Thibs got fired. And why Rose better find the right coach …….
Michael Malone helped Jokic become the best Center. He is from NYC so understands Knicks and Dolan. He is also a championship coach ……
Rose ——- just hire the man …
Kidd has always impressed people with his basketball IQ, both as a player and, afterwards, as an analyst (whether he was a HC at the time or not). He also seems to be respected by his players, and even developed good relationships with some of his better ones (I believe Brunson likes him, in a professional sense, I don’t really care otherwise). There were however issues when he was HC in both BKN and MIL about his ability or willingness to operate as a team player within the team hierarchy (FO/ownership), particularly when dealing with the outside world. Maybe it’s a thing of the past, as I haven’t heard about any such issues arising in DAL.
Still, it’s no small thing (it nearly ended his coaching career), and it’s particularly notable here because in Rose’s NYK organization, everyone, including the HC, is subject to the equivalent of their own code of omerta. Nobody promotes their own brand. Nobody even talks to outside media about anything of substance.
For the life of me I can’t see why any team would give permission for another team to speak with their coach who is under contract. You’d only do it if you were going to fire them and saw it as an opportunity to get out of paying them…
Or you were going to ask for a lot in order to trade him to the other team. Personally I think Dallas has a brighter future currently then the Knicks.