With the Knicks reportedly interested in Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd to replace the fired Tom Thibodeau, one former NBA player says there’s “no way in hell” Kidd should make that move.
“No way in hell am I leaving the Dallas Mavericks for the New York Knicks,” former No. 2 pick and New Jersey native Jay Williams said Monday on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
“First off, I don’t need that pressure, I already got pressure here,” Williams, a form. And I have better weapons and assets in Dallas.
“I got Kyrie Irving, I got Anthony Davis, I got Klay Thompson, I got PJ Washington. I got the first pick in the draft, we can make a move if we wanna trade that. Or Cooper Flagg is the best utility player in this draft that can play right now for a championship window team.”
The Knicks have yet to request permission to speak to Kidd, who has two years remaining on the contract extension he signed during the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals in 2024, per ESPN.
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg pushed back, pointing out that the Western Conference is much stronger than the East and thus it will be harder for Dallas to make a deep run in the West. The East, by contrast, features “no great team” and an injured Jayson Tatum in Boston.
He also questioned the health of the Mavericks.
“Is Kyrie Irving going to be healthy and when?” Greenberg asked. “Is Anthony Davis going to be healthy and ever? Is the rest of that roster outstanding, and the fanbase is still disgusted that they traded away Luka Doncic.
“I think that the Knicks right this minute are a better situation if you’re trying to win a championship quickly.”
Williams said he disagreed if both teams keep the same personnel, but said, “Now if you’re telling me I could be Jason Kidd come back to New York and I’m gonna get Giannis, I’ll think about it. Give me Giannis and I’ll think about it.
“But not with this personnel. Not with Karl-Anthony Towns, you’re not gonna set me up with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. That’s not sustainable what they did last year. And why do you think Thibs got fired?”
It’s interesting that Williams, who played at St. Joe’s-Metuchen, called out his fellow New Jersey native Towns, who played at the same high school.
Williams makes a point that if the Knicks could somehow add Giannis Antetokounmpo and pair him with his former coach in Kidd, it might be more appealing for Kidd.
But many NBA sources doubt whether the Knicks have the assets to acquire Giannis.
“The Knicks cannot get Giannis,” one NBA executive told NJ Advance Media. “They don’t have enough assets.”
Meantime, Marcus Morris doesn’t think Kidd -- who led the New Jersey Nets to two NBA Finals appearances and also helped the Knicks reach the playoffs in 2013 -- is a good fit in New York.
“I don’t know if his demeanor is ready for New York City. He’s a laid-back coach. I think Texas fits him really well.
“Playing for the Knicks, you have to have somebody that’s tough, that knows about the city, that knows what comes with being a New York head coach. And I just don’t know if Jason Kidd is at that level right now.”
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoriaand check out his Website atZAGSBLOG.com.