The latest Los Angeles Lakers rumors suggest that assistant coach Jason Kidd will be interviewed for a head coaching role with the Knicks.
Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd is reportedly garnering interest from around the NBA. Perhaps due to the Lakers’ tremendous success during the 2019-20 campaign, the New York Knicks are rumored to be interested in Kidd’s services.
Marc Stein of the New York Times shared the news on his Twitter account, noting that the Lakers have allowed the Knicks to speak with Kidd.
The Knicks have requested and received permission to interview the Lakers' Jason Kidd for their head coaching vacancy, @NYTSports has learned
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 22, 2020
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times revealed that Kidd and the Knicks conversed last Friday. However, an interview has not been officially scheduled yet and both parties hope to meet before the Lakers resume play in Florida.
Sources: Knicks asked Lakers GM Rob Pelinka for permission to talk with Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd for NY’s head coaching vacancy. Kidd spoke with the Knicks Friday. The two sides hope to talk in person before the Lakers head to Orlando to be in the “bubble.”
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 22, 2020
If Kidd is ultimately brought in by New York, it would not be his first rodeo as a head coach. The former floor general spent one year as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013-14. Additionally, he was the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks for about three and a half seasons, who eventually fired him during the 2017-18 campaign.
It is worth noting that Kidd was also interviewed for the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy last summer. Granted Frank Vogel was ultimately given the position, anyone on the coaching staff is going to look more desirable given the team’s robust record.
Kidd is not the only man on the Knicks’ radar, however. Per Ian Begley of SNY (via transcription by Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report), the Knicks are being thorough in their quest to find the right man for the gig.
The Knicks are also reportedly considering Tom Thibodeau, Kenny Atkinson, and Mike Brown, among various others.
Kidd spent the final year of his NBA career with the Knicks, interestingly enough. Let alone that connection, though, the Knicks may be looking to add the Lakers’ assistant coach for another reason.
Steve Popper of Newsday (per Rapp’s transcription) argues that Kidd could help lure superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Big Apple next year. As was aforementioned, Kidd previously coached the Bucks and therefore has ties with Giannis.
According to Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation, the Nets are also interested in Kidd so it seems. On the one hand, it would give Kidd a chance to redeem himself in a sense. Despite his great success with the Nets as a player, the same success did not quite translate itself as a coach.
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Moreover, it is not unrealistic to think the Nets could be a great team next year. As Starkand says, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant could mesh well together and make the Nets a top threat in the East. Of course, that is under the assumption the latter is completely healthy.
Even if the purple and gold’s assistant coach got a job elsewhere, he is likely to finish out the rest of the season with the team. It would not make a lot of sense for him to essentially ditch the Lakers given their strong odds of competing for a title.
Lakers Rumors: What this means for the Lakers
It is important to say the following about these Lakers rumors as well. Since L.A. gave New York permission to interview Kidd in the first place, it eliminates the stigma that Kidd was hired to be Vogel’s replacement.
There was a lot of discussion earlier in the season about whether Vogel was the right choice for the job. However, a lot of those talks have ceased because Los Angeles has finally become a top team once again.
For that very reason, though, the Lakers may have given New York the permission to speak with the 47-year-old because he is not absolutely necessary. The Lakers have clicked all year long and Vogel’s defensive-minded tactics have clearly carried over from his days with the Indiana Pacers.
As Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll illustrated, who knows whether the Knicks are desirable to Kidd. While he would probably like to be a head coach again, the Knicks have not been in the best shape for a long time. That factor alone could prove to be a buzz kill.
Starkand also commented that Kidd and LeBron James have a close bond. Thus, if LeBron for whatever reason speaks out on Kidd and wants him back, the Lakers would be foolish to not be mindful of LeBron’s wishes.
James has always been vocal throughout his career, so that could very well play a role in the upcoming weeks.
For the time being, nothing is guaranteed and Kidd very much so remains a part of the Lakers organization. Time will tell whether he lands a larger scale role.