The New York Knicks have been denied permission to interview several head coaches who are under contract with other NBA teams, but their top choice could reportedly still be in play.
The Knicks submitted a formal request to the Dallas Mavericks last week seeking to meet with Jason Kidd, but the Mavericks did not allow it. Despite that, SNY’s Ian Begley reported on Monday that there remains a chance the Knicks could hire Kidd.
Begley said he was told by people familiar with the dynamic between Kidd and the Mavericks that “the door is not completely closed” on Kidd leaving Dallas for the Knicks job.
A recent report claimed there is mutual interest between Kidd and the Knicks. Though, it is possible Kidd is using the situation as leverage to get a new contract from the Mavericks.
Kidd has connections to the Knicks, who are coming off an impressive season in which they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Kidd coached Jalen Brunson for a season in Dallas, and Brunson parlayed his success with the Mavericks into a lucrative contract with New York.
Kidd is also close with veteran NBA trainer Casey Smith, who was controversially phased out by the Mavericks a while back. Smith has since taken a job with the Knicks.
In addition, Kidd played for the Knicks in his final NBA season in 2012-13.
If Kidd were to make it clear to the Mavericks that he wanted out, it is unlikely that they would force him to stay. NBA teams have completed trades for coaches in the past, and Kidd was involved in one of them. Following the 2013-14 season, Kidd was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a pair of second-round picks.
The 52-year-old Kidd just completed his fourth season as the head coach in Dallas. He led the team to the NBA Finals a year ago, but things changed dramatically for the Mavericks after Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning move. Kidd suggested publicly that he had no say in the deal.
Kidd is contractually obligated to the Mavericks, but no team wants a head coach that would rather be elsewhere. If that is the case for Kidd, the Knicks may still have a shot to land him.
