Mavs Closing In On Hiring Jason Kidd As Coach

The Mavericks are nearing a deal that will make Lakers assistant Jason Kidd the team’s next coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Along with that move, Mavs owner Mark Cuban is expected to name a new head of basketball operations/general manager soon, Wojnarowski and MacMahon added.

Dallas has also offered a front-office job to longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison, though Wojnarowski and MacMahon didn’t specify what position Harrison would hold. The Mavs are also “optimistic that vice president of basketball operations Michael Finley will remain with the franchise,” per the report.

Finley has been mentioned as a potential replacement for departed GM Donnie Nelson in previous reports.

Kidd, 48, received an endorsement from former Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, who accepted an offer to become the new coach of the Pacers on Thursday. Carlisle cited Mavs star guard Luka Doncic as one reason why.

“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 told MacMahon. “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.”

Kidd coached the Nets during the 2013-14 season, compiling a 44-38 record. He then spent three-and-a-half seasons coaching the Bucks, finishing 139-152 for a 183-190 mark overall.

He has been an assistant under Frank Vogel with the Lakers since the start of the 2019-20 season and has been linked to several other openings, including those with the Magic, Pelicans and Trail Blazers.

Kidd recently withdrew from consideration with the Blazers, but reportedly has interviewed with the Magic.

“Carlisle’s motives for the statement will certainly be questioned, but one source noted Kidd has many fans within the franchise after helping Dallas win its breakthrough title in 2011,” Marc Stein of the New York Times wrote. “He was always sure to be strongly considered for the club’s first coaching vacancy since 2008.”

Kidd played for the Mavericks from 1994-96, then again from 2008-12. Dallas won the championship in 2011.

Per Wojnarowski and MacMahon, Harrison has been pursued for front-office roles by other teams and would be on board with the hiring of Kidd as coach.

The Mavs recently added legend Dirk Nowitzki as a special advisor and he and Finley have also supported the idea of hiring Kidd, Wojnarowski and MacMahon added.