Crushing Jason Kidd-to-Knicks rumor gets the update Mavericks desperately needed

The Dallas Mavericks' organization plans to make a splash on draft night. The team controls its destiny, as it owns the number one draft pick. All signs point to Dallas drafting Duke superstar Cooper Flagg. This is good news, as ideas began to swirl about what the team would do with the pick right after they won the lottery. Some outlets suggested Dallas might trade it, however, it has been strongly reported that the Mavs have their sights set on Flagg.

Coach Jason Kidd even hinted at the idea of Flagg coming to Dallas. Recently, Kidd hopped on The Fan to discuss the team's draft plans. He outlined how his staff has been doing their research on Flagg. This is promising, as Kidd seems destined to create different plays centered around Flagg, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and other Dallas players.

Kidd's statement speaks volumes to his commitment to help improve the Mavericks. It also implies that he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It was reported earlier that the New York Knicks had interest in hiring Kidd to become their next head coach, but it seems like Dallas would decline any request the Knicks had to speak with their current head coach.

Kidd-to-Knicks chatter gets shut down before it gets real

SportsNet New York NBA Insider Ian Begley also spoke about the Kidd-Knicks situation. He mentioned the Kidd and Houston Rockets' coach Ime Udoka are two candidates on the Knicks' list. However, Begley believes Kidd isn't going anywhere. He reckons that Kidd has too many ties with the Mavs for them to let him go.

"I can't see Dallas even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go," Begley said.

Why Jason Kidd? What does he have to offer?

It's clear why the Knicks would be interested in someone like Kidd. In his first year coaching, he led the Brooklyn Nets to the playoffs, where they defeated the Toronto Raptors in the opening round. He then helped turn the Milwaukee Bucks around in his first season, as they went from winning 15 games to making the playoffs under Kidd's regime.

Kidd found more success when he became the assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He played a pivotal role in helping the Lakers win the 2020 NBA Finals. It was Kidd's defensive schemes and Frank Vogel's success that allowed him to flourish. This led to him becoming the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas hired Kidd on June 28, 2021, as he replaced former Mavs' coach Rick Carlisle. He found success early on, leading the Mavs to two Western Conference Finals appearances in two of his four seasons. Not to mention, he helped Dallas make the 2024 NBA Finals. Last season, Dallas signed Kidd to a multi-year contract extension due to his high-profile success.

So, it's clear why the Knicks would want him. Not to mention, he has close ties with the team. For starters, Kidd played with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season. He also coached Knicks guard Jalen Brunson for a year in Dallas and is close with Casey Smith. Kidd's connection with the Knicks runs deep, and it makes sense why they want him to help lead their team.

Players also love playing for Kidd.

They have expressed high praise for the Mavs' coach. For example, NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James have stated that they enjoyed playing under Kidd. The same could also be said for Irving and Davis.

Yet, no matter the reason, it seems Kidd isn't going anywhere. Kidd has two more years left on his contract, and losing him would be detrimental to the team. Players like Irving have already lost Luka Doncic, and losing someone like Kidd could mess up what they've built in Dallas. It would cause another Nico Harrison uproar.

So, assuming the statement above holds, then players like Davis and Irving can breathe a sigh of relief. The Mavs need to continue building team chemistry. If Kidd left, it would destroy that already-bonded relationship.

Now, all Harrison needs to do is ensure Kidd is a Maverick for the foreseeable future. He must shut down any rumors of him potentially leaving for the Knicks. This is what's best for Kidd and the Mavs, even if he isn't the perfect coach at times. The Mavs must ensure the Knicks don't intervene in their relationship.