Jason

Kidd

"[Luka] had a great game, but no one else showed,” Kidd said. “We’ve got to get other guys shooting the ball better. We can’t win with just him out there scoring 30 a night -- not at this time of the year. And we’re playing the best team in the league, so we’ve got to get other guys going.” Kidd mentioned Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie specifically, as the two have combined for 41 points on 32% shooting in Games 1 and 2. “A lot of players, it’s the first time in this situation,” Doncic said. “We believe, man. They’ve got to win four, so it’s not over yet.”

Kidd is said to have no interest in signing for just one season, but the Knicks may not be prepared to offer more than that unless they think that having Kidd on board would increase the chances of LeBron James signing next summer. The Mavs still appear to be the most likely destination for Kidd, but the Knicks are going to make a hard pitch.

Dallas has won four straight games coming into their matchup with the Rockets. Luka Doncic’s return will help ease the pain of being without their head coach, though Doncic (ankle) is doubtful for Friday. Sean Sweeney will take over head coaching duties during Kidd’s absence.

Kokoskov has 20 years of NBA coaching experience, including one as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 2018-2019. He also served as the head coach of the Slovenian national team for two years, where he coached Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. It is said that the two have a good relationship, which is a big reason for Kokoskov’s hiring. Kokoskov coached this past season for Fenerbahce in Turkey but has reportedly parted ways with the Turkish power to accept this new position with the Mavericks.

No surprise here, as it was widely reported on Thursday that Kidd and the Mavericks had begun contract negotiations. It’s reportedly a four-year deal. Shams also reports Friday that Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive, will serve as the Mavs‘ new General Manager and run basketball operations. Kidd has a career record of 183-190 as a head coach, having last been the head man in Milwaukee from 2014 to 2018.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this evening that Kidd had emerged as a “strong frontrunner” to secure the Dallas gig, and just a short while later, Marc Stein confirmed that the two sides indeed have begun contract negotiations. The Mavs are also working on hiring a new GM, but they’re close on that, and the currently unnamed GM has given his blessing to the Kidd hiring.

Rick Carlisle publicly lobbied for Kidd to be hired as the next coach on his way out the door, and Kidd also has the backing of Mavs’ legend, Dirk Nowitzki, who has been advising Mark Cuban as he looks to hire a new coach and GM. The idea of Kidd as a head coach is routinely mocked in the Twittersphere, but he was partly responsible for developing Giannis Antetokounmpo as a playmaker, and he did win a championship during his playing days with the Mavericks.

Carlisle resigned as Mavericks head coach on June 17, and one week later he agreed to a four-year deal to coach the Pacers. And he didn’t hesitate to give Kidd his endorsement for the open Mavericks job, with the two having worked together (Kidd was a player then) for four years. During that four-year stretch, the Mavs won their lone NBA championship. “My hope is that Jason Kidd will be the next coach of the Mavs because he and Luka have so many things in common as players,” Carlisle said. “I just think that it would be a great situation for Luka, and I think it would be an amazing situation for Jason. I’m the only person on the planet that’s coached both of those guys and that knows about all of their special qualities as basketball players. To me, that just would be a great marriage, but that’s just an opinion.” In addition to Kidd, current Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley is also expected to be considered for the Mavericks job.

Earlier this week, Damian Lillard told Yahoo Sports that “Jason Kidd is the guy I want.” However, over the weekend, Kidd told ESPN: “Portland’s a first-class organization and will have great candidates for its head coaching job, but I’ve decided not to be one of them. Whoever they choose will have big shoes to fill from Terry [Stotts].”

On Friday the Blazers announced that they would be parting ways with Terry Stotts after nine seasons, a move that comes as no surprise given the team’s lack of recent playoff success. It should also come as no surprise that Lillard, Portland’s franchise player, will be an important figure in the team’s search for a new head coach. While he did say that he likes both Kidd and Billups as potential fits, it’s also worth noting that a source close to Lillard told The Athletic that the All-Star point guard “prefers Kidd because of his previous head coaching experience in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, and his background as an Oakland point guard.” At this point in the process, it appears that either Kidd or Billups, who is viewed as an intriguing figure by Portland’s front office, will be the team’s next head coach. But it’s still early.