The New York Knicks need a new head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau, who guided the franchise to the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000.
The Knicks, who are talking to Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown, have been denied permission to speak with Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan.
Udoka and Donovan recently signed extensions with the Rockets and Bulls, respectively. It appears the Knicks helped them get new deals by being interested in them.
If Kidd, who has two years left on his contract, doesn’t get an extension from the Mavericks, he theoretically could leave for the Knicks, who would have to trade draft picks to Dallas to acquire the Hall of Famer.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd could still end up with the New York Knicks.
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
According to Kris Pursiainen of ClutchPoints, the Knicks will pursue Kidd "until that door is firmly shut.”
“Sources tell ClutchPoints the Knicks will pursue Kidd until that door is firmly shut,” Pursianien wrote. “If Kidd and the Mavericks make a final decision to continue their partnership, the Knicks will need to move on.
"They won’t have to conduct much of a ‘pivot,’ though. They will need to break down and continue to supplement the information they’ve gathered on other top candidates.”
Kidd has a coaching record of 362-339 in the regular season and 31-33 in the playoffs with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Mavericks. He played for the Knicks for one season in 2012-13.
Kidd left the Nets for the Bucks in 2014. Brooklyn traded the NBA legend to Milwaukee for two second-round picks.
The Mavericks have the first pick in this year's draft. They are expected to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg.
It will be fascinating to see if Kidd is in Dallas or New York next season.