The New York Knicks are conducting energetic due diligence on Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd amongst different head teaching candidates of their search to switch Tom Thibodeau, sources advised ESPN.
The Knicks have but to request permission to talk to Kidd, who has two years remaining on the contract extension he signed in the course of the Mavs’ 2024 run to the NBA Finals, sources mentioned.
Dallas common supervisor Nico Harrison and governor Patrick Dumont haven’t but mentioned whether or not the franchise can be prepared to grant permission for Kidd to talk to the Knicks, sources mentioned.
The groups theoretically may work out a commerce that might permit the Knicks to rent Kidd. Nevertheless, New York depleted its future draft belongings by sending 5 first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in final summer time’s commerce for ahead Mikal Bridges.
New York has a top-eight-protected 2026 decide from the Washington Wizards and eight second-round picks, together with No. 50 general in June’s draft. The Knicks can even supply first-round swap rights in 2026, 2030, 2031 and 2032.
Kidd was a part of the group that interviewed for the Knicks job in 2020 earlier than it went to Thibodeau.
The Knicks opted to maneuver on from Thibodeau, the fourth-winningest coach in franchise historical past and by far their most profitable one this century, after New York received eradicated by the Pacers within the Japanese Convention finals.
Thibodeau led the Knicks to back-to-back 50-win seasons for the primary time because the mid-Nineties, and oversaw the membership’s gorgeous second-round victory over the defending-champion Boston Celtics. However he additionally leaned closely on a beginning 5 that produced diminishing returns over the second half of the common season and was completely outscored all through the playoffs. His .579 profitable proportion within the common season is the best in league historical past (minimal 300 video games) amongst those that’ve by no means reached the NBA Finals, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
Kidd, who completed his Corridor of Fame enjoying profession with the Knicks in 2013, served as the top coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks earlier than signing on to steer the Mavericks. Dallas has logged a 54.6% win proportion (179-149) in Kidd’s 4 seasons on the helm.
Kidd led the Mavericks to the Finals a 12 months in the past, however Dallas has since traded famous person Luka Doncic — a transfer that Harrison, the Mavs government, acknowledged he did not run by Kidd earlier than making the February blockbuster cope with the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN’s Chris Herring contributed to this report.
