Knicks’ Head Coaching Search Raises Questions
The New York Knicks’ search for a new head coach has felt a bit unusual following the firing of Tom Thibodeau, especially considering it came after the team’s longest playoff run in 25 years. Speculation has swirled around names like Jay Wright and Jeff Van Gundy, but those options never seemed particularly credible. Bringing in someone like former assistant Johnny Bryant, who would be a first-time head coach, might be a bit of a gamble, requiring a lot of faith in his capabilities.
Since Tibbs was let go, rumors suggested the Knicks might pursue a head coach who was already employed elsewhere. Now, it seems that they’ve sharpened their focus, and finding a way to secure their target is the priority.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Knicks are keen on Jason Kidd as their new head coach. The catch? Kidd is currently leading the Dallas Mavericks. This puts the ball in Dallas’ court. They could simply refuse to let Kidd interview, but they might also consider trading him if that would benefit them. Windhorst provided insights into the Knicks’ ambitions regarding Kidd.
“The Knicks definitely hope to bring Jason Kidd on board as their next head coach,” Windhorst mentioned. “However, it will depend on what the Dallas Mavericks decide.”
Windhorst also recalled a similar situation involving the Phoenix Suns’ interest in Chauncey Billups when he was with the Portland Trail Blazers last year. The Blazers turned down the Suns’ request for an interview, and Billups ultimately received a contract extension in Portland. This reflects one potential path forward, but if Dallas decides to let Kidd go, a trade agreement will be necessary.
Kidd has some history with coaching trades. In 2014, the Brooklyn Nets traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for a second-round draft pick. He went on to coach Giannis Antetokounmpo in his second NBA season, implementing a strategy that utilized him as a point forward. However, the Bucks didn’t find their stride until they eventually replaced Kidd with Mike Budenholzer.
So, does Kidd want to leave Dallas? The Mavs have the top draft pick and are poised to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is projected to be an exceptional talent in the future. But Flagg is only 18 and several years away from reaching his full potential. The Mavericks have stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on their roster, though Irving could be sidelined for part of the season due to a torn ACL. It’s tough to picture the Mavs competing in a challenging Western Conference without Irving during Flagg’s rookie year.
This scenario also ties back to how Kidd feels about the trade involving Luka Doncic. While Kidd tried to distance himself from that decision, GM Nico Harrison likely leaned on him when it came to evaluating the Slovenian superstar. If Kidd does join the Knicks, he would lead a squad poised to contend for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals soon, but there would also be immense expectations to deliver results.
The Knicks want Kidd. But the real question is—does Kidd want the Knicks? And if he does, will Dallas prevent him from taking the position? New York is all-in on their championship aspirations, making it crucial to get this coaching hire right. If everything aligns, Kidd may soon be coaching the Knicks.
