The New York Knicks enter the offseason as the only team in the NBA in search of a new head coach.
Of course, the Knicks made the shocking decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after he helped lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Since firing Thibodeau, the Knicks have tried to interview five different coaches who already hold a head coaching position in the NBA, but they were denied by all five teams.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
One of those teams was the Dallas Mavericks, who denied New York’s request to interview Jason Kidd.
Kidd was the top candidate for the Knicks entering their coaching search and while the Mavericks denied their request to interview him, a recent report by Ian Begley suggests that New York may still be able to land the former star point guard as their new head coach.
“The door is not completely closed on the Knicks and Jason Kidd, per people familiar with the dynamic in Dallas,” Begley wrote. “Other outlets reported as recently as last week that Kidd was still a possibility, and that remains the case as of Monday.”
This is a massive report by Begley and one that comes as a surprise after Dallas denied New York’s request to interview Kidd early last week.
While the Mavericks denied their request, it seems as though the Knicks are still aggressively pursuing Kidd to be the next head coach of the franchise and with this report, it looks as though Kidd may be contemplating moving on from Dallas.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Because of this, Kidd may force the Mavericks to allow him to speak with the Knicks as he contemplates moving to New York.
If Kidd does end up wanting to become the next head coach of the Knicks, expect the Mavericks to try and work out a trade with New York so that they do not end up losing him for nothing.