Cooper Flagg and Jason Kidd’s Vision in Dallas
Cooper Flagg recently shared that Jason Kidd expressed his “good vision” for their partnership in Dallas, although he noted that he hadn’t had conversations about the Knicks or their coaching search.
“I haven’t discussed that yet,” Flagg said after being selected first overall on Wednesday. “But I think he’s pretty enthusiastic about it. We talked on the phone, and even post-training, he seems to have a clear vision for me.”
The Knicks were unable to get permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd for their vacant coaching position, yet rumors about a possible connection persist.
It seems Kidd is interested in the Knicks’ role and is also looking for a contract extension with the Mavericks, which could lead to some tension if an agreement isn’t reached. Sources indicate that the Mavericks’ front office told Kidd they’d prefer to discuss his contract later in the offseason.
Meanwhile, there’s some transition within the Mavericks’ assistant coaching staff. Lead assistant Sean Sweeney has moved to San Antonio, but the addition of Flagg, who is viewed as a game-changing talent at just 18, is a significant boost for the team.
“I’ve always aimed to be a winner, so I’ll give my all wherever I land,” Flagg said. “The idea of being successful and winning games is, you know, definitely thrilling.”
The Knicks are reviewing multiple candidates for their coaching position, including Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown, and others.
They didn’t make a first-round selection on Wednesday due to a previous trade that involved Mikal Bridges.
Looking Ahead to the Knicks’ Draft Strategy
The Knicks have a noticeable tendency of finding success in the second round of the draft, picking players like Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride. However, they face challenges in these later rounds, as many drafted players tend to fade from the NBA quickly.
Tom Thibodeau has been part of that selection process, having notably targeted McBride in 2021.
Now that things have shifted for the Knicks, they hold the 50th pick in the ongoing second round. Yet they may struggle to find room on their roster for another immediate contributor.
This has led to speculation that the Knicks might either trade their second-round pick or possibly look at overseas players who are less well-known.
Considering the new apron rules, every dollar in their budget becomes increasingly crucial, especially for a team evaluating its roster. They acquired their current pick from the Thunder following a trade last year.
New York had their own second-round pick taken away after a violation related to tampering with player Jaren Branson before his signing.
Looking forward, it’s clear that depth will be a priority for the Knicks next season. High-level directives are suggesting a rotation involving 10 players, which is quite a few given that 11 players are already under contract.
This doesn’t even account for promising young prospects like Kevin McCulla Jr. and James Naji, who were both second-round picks in past drafts.
Along with a $5.7 million Midlevel exception for free agency, they also have the option to fill gaps with lower-cost contracts.
