The New York Knicks are back in the coaching carousel-and they’ve got one name in mind: Jason Kidd.
Following Tom Thibodeau’s exit, the Knicks have zeroed in on the Dallas Mavericks head coach, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Appearing on Get Up Tuesday morning, Windhorst said New York “absolutely” wants to bring Kidd to Madison Square Garden.
Here’s the catch: Kidd is still under contract with Dallas, and the Mavericks would need to give the Knicks permission to even have a conversation. Whether that happens could depend on Kidd’s own willingness to entertain the idea-and what Dallas might want to avoid.
Just last month, Kidd inked a multiyear extension to stay with the Mavericks, reportedly after the Lakers showed interest post-Darvin Ham firing (The Athletic). But it’s not all sunshine in Dallas. Reports from The Athletic’s Tim Cato suggest Kidd wasn’t happy about being left out of the loop on the team’s shocking decision to trade Luka Doncic. The tension between Kidd and GM Nico Harrison is very real.
Could New York Be Kidd’s Fresh Start?
There are compelling reasons for Kidd to stay put. Dallas has the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and is expected to land high school phenom Cooper Flagg. That alone could be reason enough to ride things out.
But if Kidd feels like his voice doesn’t matter in the Mavericks’ front office, the Knicks might look a lot more attractive. New York just made its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 and seems poised for more. Rumors around potential trades-like one involving Karl-Anthony Towns-suggest this team is still in “win now” mode (HoopsHype).
The Eastern Conference could also be ripe for the taking. The Celtics are dealing with Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear, the Cavs may retool, and outside of Indiana, there aren’t many clear-cut threats. For a coach looking to contend with fewer obstacles, this might be the moment.
Kidd has a 362-339 career record across three teams and won a ring as an assistant with the Lakers in 2020. He’s been in pressure cookers before-Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Dallas-and New York would be no different. But if the fit is right and the Mavericks hesitate, the Knicks are clearly ready to make their pitch.
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