There’s “mutual intrigue” between Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and the Knicks, who reportedly have interest in hiring him away from Dallas, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Monday during a SportsCenter appearance (Twitter video link).
Peter Botte of The New York Post confirms that the interest between Kidd and the Knicks is mutual, while Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) provides more details on why the former NBA star appeals to New York. As Stein explains, Kidd has existing relationships with Knicks owner James Dolan and star point guard Jalen Brunson, who is thought to be a “strong Kidd advocate.”
Kidd also has experience handling the New York City spotlight as both a player and a coach, which is considered an important part of the job, given how often the Knicks’ head coach is expected to speak on behalf of the franchise, Stein notes. Members of the front office, including president of basketball operations Leon Rose, essentially never talk to the media.
Whether that mutual interest between Kidd and New York leads anywhere remains to be seen, however. The Knicks haven’t yet asked the Mavericks for permission to speak to their head coach and likely won’t do so unless they’re confident they have a real chance to hire him, as Windhorst observes. Stein, who stated over the weekend that Dallas may simply turn down New York’s request for permission if it comes, agrees that the Knicks ultimately may not even submit that request, if that’s the outcome they’re expecting.
Still, until the Mavericks make it clear on or off the record – like the Rockets did with Ime Udoka – that they’re not entertaining the idea of letting their head coach go, or until the Knicks begin focusing on a new target, the chatter surrounding Kidd will likely continue, Stein writes.
Here’s more on Kidd and the Knicks’ head coaching vacancy:
- Kidd wasn’t a big fan of having to act as the Mavericks’ de facto spokesman in the wake of the team’s Luka Doncic trade in February, writes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Still, Stein doesn’t believe Kidd is unhappy in Dallas or angling for the Knicks’ job, noting that the veteran head coach is close with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Kidd and his family are also settled in Dallas, and he has also spoken enthusiastically in multiple media appearances in recent weeks about the prospect of adding Cooper Flagg.
- Speaking of Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick is scheduled to visit Dallas next Tuesday. Stein suggests that the Mavericks likely won’t want Kidd’s future with the Mavs to still be an open question at that point, so resolution one way or the other should come within the next week.
- Although it seems as if Kidd is the Knicks’ Plan A, the organization is expected to conduct an “exhaustive search that includes coaches at every level,” league sources tell Edwards.
- While Tom Thibodeau had a reputation for being reluctant to play his youngsters, Jared Schwartz of The New York Post notes that second-round picks like Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride blossomed under the Knicks’ former head coach. Player development could be an important consideration in this coaching search, Schwartz adds, since the team will want to get the most out of 2024 draftees Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, and Ariel Hukporti.
And if you don’t make the NBA finals on your first year, you’ll be considered a failure Jason stay where you’re at because the fans will want you out. They’ll get you back to drinking again. I know you’ve been dry but it’ll start.
Man y’all sure do quote the NY Post a lot. Strong NY Post/Jessie Waters/Billy Packer/Mike Patrick vibes here smh.
Fox news next Sank. Bad precedent.
NY post is known for making up things that are just gossip.
Post is a rag …. all about selling agendas and sales. Truth is not a priority.
Kidd signed an extension beginning of year. That has two more yrs according to search ….
Mavs just landed Cooper. Mavs have to redo this team with Kyrie out. Why would they let their coach go. Plus Knicks would have to pay to get Kidd. And they have nothing to give up. Considering their bench is a priority…….. just NOISE
Only one man for Knicks job. Queens NY native.
Michael Malone —- He can help Towns like he helped Jokic ….. be glad when this is over geeezz
A report like this should trigger DAL to pre-emptively kill the idea soon. Another team flirting with your coach is one thing (let it play out), him flirting back is another. Even if they’re not sure Kidd is their guy, they should kill it. Saving a few dollars on Kidd’s contract or a potential draft pick from the NYK isn’t worth nonsense this idea will generate in the next few months before it wraps up.
FWIW, IMO, Kidd, dispositionally, is someone who could easily work for Dolan.
Knicks for clicks. Anyone reading any Knicks rumors should remember that Leon Rose doesn’t leak.
The media is doing everything they can to will Kidd To NYK. Too bad that’s not how things work.