NBA Notes: Jason Kidd, 76ers, front office, Timberwolves

Mavericks

Jason Kidd may not stay on the market very long.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, several teams are already expected to show interest in Kidd after the Mavericks moved on from him earlier this week.

One obvious possibility? The Magic.

Stein reported Orlando had strong interest in Kidd back in 2021 before ultimately hiring Jamahl Mosley. Now the Magic are back in the market again after firing Mosley.

The Trail Blazers are another team to watch.

According to Stein, Kidd already has a relationship with new Portland owner Tom Dundon, which naturally fuels speculation there as well.

And honestly, Kidd’s résumé will probably make him a candidate almost anywhere. Kidd guided the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024.

76ers

The more the 76ers talk publicly about their front office structure, the more questions seem to emerge.

According to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Inquirer, there’s growing belief around league circles that Bob Myers may ultimately wield far more basketball influence in Philadelphia than originally expected after the dismissal of Daryl Morey.

At first, Myers’ role with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment was viewed as broad and organizational, overseeing multiple properties that include the New Jersey Devils and Crystal Palace F.C.

Now? Maybe not so simple.

“Josh desperately wants Bob to run the team,” one source told Hayes. “Bob desperately does not want to run the team.”

That quote pretty much sums up the uncertainty.

Hayes noted that Myers still doesn’t work out of Philadelphia and continues balancing responsibilities across multiple franchises, which only increases the importance of the Sixers hiring someone capable of independently running day-to-day basketball operations.

In other words, Philadelphia probably needs more than a figurehead here.

Timberwolves

Tim Connelly made one thing very clear this week: The Timberwolves are not satisfied.

Speaking after Minnesota’s second-round playoff exit, Connelly repeatedly said there was “more good than bad” about the season while also acknowledging the Wolves simply were not good enough.

“We have to be realistic,” Connelly said, via the Associated Press. “We know that we’re not good enough right now.”

Connelly also pointed toward inconsistency and emotional maturity as areas needing improvement after forward Naz Reid recently referenced “moodiness” inside the team.

“There’s too many nights when we were not as locked in as we should be,” Connelly said.

Still, if there’s one thing Connelly has shown throughout his executive career, it’s aggressiveness.

The executive who swung the blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade shortly after arriving in Minnesota suggested the Timberwolves will continue taking big swings if necessary.

“I’d rather get fired for trying than sit here and just do the job in survival mode,” Connelly said.

That definitely doesn’t sound like someone planning a quiet offseason.