Masai Ujiri took over as the Dallas Mavericks' president of basketball operations with plans to usher in a new vision. At his introductory press conference, he wouldn't commit to moving forward with Jason Kidd. That was a signal of what came to light on Tuesday when ESPN's Shams Charania announced the organization was parting ways with its head coach. That's despite the Hall of Fame point guard having four years and over $40 million left on his contract.
With that money coming their way, some would enjoy some time in the tropics. Instead, Kidd may again be roaming an NBA sideline next season.
As Marc Stein reported on his Substack, "The Stein Line," "League sources say Orlando had serious interest in Kidd in the summer of 2021 when it last had a coaching vacancy and the same decision-makers (Jeff Weltman and top adviser John Hammond) remain in place."
While Billy Donovan seems like the favorite to land that job, Kidd and Tom Thibodeau fit the bill as the Magic search for a new bench boss with head-coaching experience.
Kidd joining the Celtics seems like a poor match for both sides
It's hard to believe he would rush into an opportunity to be an assistant coach. He helped guide the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. They were overmatched against Boston. However, it was a playoff run that helped him register five playoff series wins, tying Rick Carlisle for the most in franchise history.
Then, there's the other side of the equation. Would Joe Mazzulla trust Kidd's motives for wanting to join his coaching staff? It could be with an eye on replacing the Celtics' bench boss if the team has another disappointing postseason.
Perhaps Boston decides to hire an experienced assistant this summer. When they won their most recent NBA title, Sam Cassell and Charles Lee were flanking Mazzulla. That individual would be joining a talented group, filled with individuals on the rise, like Tony Dobbins and D.J. MacLeay.
However, there are better alternatives. And yes, Kidd took a year off after the Milwaukee Bucks moved on from him, then returned as an assistant coach. However, one would think that after a five-year stint in Dallas filled with plenty of success, he'll take a different approach this go-around. It would probably take a harsh reality check from the open market to convince him not to wait for a head-coaching opportunity.
So, while many Celtics fans don't want to see Kidd join Mazzulla's staff, the feeling is probably mutual.
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