The New York Knicks are expected to pursue Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
After the New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, speculation quickly ramped over who the Knicks would hire as their next coach.
In addition to the usual NBA suspects, college legends like Dan Harley and Jay Wright have been mentioned, but the Knicks appear to be focusing on poaching the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd.
Kidd has signed with MAVS throughout the 2026-27 season, with Dallas having a competitive roster for next season. The Knicks almost hired Kid in 2020 before settling down with Thibodeau, and the Mavericks, oddly, are likely to allow Kid interviews for Knick’s work.
After trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, Mavericks, led by GM Nico Harrison, declared to the world that he had opened the title window for “Three or Four Years.”
Soon, both Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving got injured and Dallas missed the playoffs, but they are expected to run things with roughly the same roster and coaches that they previously reached the final.
That changed when the Knicks expressed interest in Kidd.
“The Mavericks may have quickly put this story in the bud. Jason Kidd is our coach,” he said. Sports Illustrated’s Insider Chrismann Knicks. “Don’t make a statement and don’t let reporters say. We’re not interested and we’re not going to allow head coaches who have been on the contract for years to go to another team.”
With the Kidd in team control, the Mavericks could say that he didn’t drive him out of contract and complicate the process of bringing him to New York, but they have not shown they’re willing to play hardball.
“It’s strange to me that Dallas hasn’t closed this,” Mannix continued. “If they let go of Jason Kidd, who’ll replace him? If Kidd goes, the Mavericks won’t know where the veteran candidate Knicks are now or who will coach it.”
Of course, Kidd may have expressed to Dallas that he has no interest in leaving.
After missing the playoffs, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by winning a draft lottery and rose to the first overall pick despite having only 1.8% odds. The Play-In team’s winning lottery ticket marks the second season onwards.
The Mavericks are expected to draft Cooper Flag, a talent to change franchise alongside Irving, Davis, PJ Washington and Klay Thompson.
But the “three or four years” window may not be a sudden plan for the young superstar to build.
“I think in Dallas we need some thought about blowing up all of this,” Mannix predicted. “When Cooper Flags come in, you can build an entire team around this kid.”
The Mavericks boast a considerable market, successful history and budding talent to play.
However, Dallas only boasts its first draft pick in 2026 and 2031. All picks for 2028, 2029, and 2030 will be replaced or paid by another team. With the Lakers’ first round picks in 2029, Dallas has only three guaranteed picks over the next few years.
Daniel Gafford, Irving, Davis and Washington all should have enough trade value to Dallas recover the capital’s draft and build around Flag and Delekki Lively Idi II, but that’s not enough capital to build around Flag.
For Harrison, who claimed to be building a title contender, this represents his second 180-degree mindset in less than a year, but Flagg might be worth investing in that way.