Marc Stein reported Friday morning that, after rumors of the Knicks’ interest in Jason Kidd circulated this week, they plan to formally ask the Mavericks to speak to him about becoming their next head coach. If this were to happen, the likely route would be via trade. Not only would this be the second time Kidd would leave Dallas for New York, but it would also be the second time Kidd would be traded as a coach. As Stein noted, the Mavericks could shoot down an attempt to speak with Kidd, but the intent to do so has not been made public, despite Stein reaching out to confirm this week.
Selfishly, I would love to see Kidd go tell the New York media nobody is dying after a February loss to the Wizards. There is a stench from the Luka Doncic fiasco that still smells ripe on all of the coaching staff and the front office. One way or another, that must be extinguished. I am not particularly interested in winning next season like Nico Harrison or Patrick Dumont are, and I feel indifferent about Kidd’s potential successor. I want to be able to remove the asterisk when I say I am rooting for the Dallas Mavericks, and Kidd going to New York would help do that.
In reality, the logistics of this move make it very difficult. New York would have to be so in love with Kidd that they would be willing to give up the limited draft picks they have to trade for him. Conversely, Kidd would have to be so fed up with the situation in Dallas, which includes the potential of coaching Cooper Flagg, that he forces the Mavericks’ hand to let him go. Jalen Brunson’s relationship with Kidd, which Stein commented on, could be a factor in getting this done. Kidd unlocked Brunson three years ago and got him paid by the Knicks. The prospect of coaching a title-contending team with your old protégé may be too good to pass up. For now, however, Kidd remains the coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Whether or not the organization allows him to speak with New York over the coming days and weeks will be very telling of how Kidd and the Mavericks feel about his current position.