Following reports that Jason Kidd will be considered as a head coaching candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Insider Marc Stein reports that the Dallas Mavericks head coach is “likely” to receive a contract extension this summer. .
“Mavericks coach Jason Kidd… [Tyronn] Lue has only one season left on his current contract, but if Kidd becomes available, he would be an obvious target for the Lakers,” Stein wrote. League officials say Kidd is likely to receive a contract extension in the near future after leading Dallas to two 50-win seasons and three playoff series wins in four tries in his three seasons as Mavericks coach. .
“I've heard that the Lakers don't expect Kidd to become a coaching free agent any more than they hope to give Lue a chance.”
Kidd, who took over as head coach of the Mavericks ahead of the 2021-22 season, led the team to two playoff appearances and won 50 games in two of his three years at the helm.
In 2022, he led Dallas to the Western Conference Finals, but fell short of the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. After missing the postseason last year, Kidd and the Mavericks bounced back, defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, and now face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
Kidd is set to become a coaching free agent after the 2024-25 season, but given his success, it seems like the Mavericks would jump at the opportunity to extend him this offseason.
Keeping Kidd would deprive the Lakers of a potential candidate. In addition to Kidd, the Lakers are reportedly pursuing Clippers coach Tyronn Lue and former NBA veteran JJ Redick.
Stein said Lue only has one season left on his contract, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that Los Angeles is considering extending his contract this summer despite the Clippers being eliminated in the first round. It was reported that this is the plan.
Of the three reported candidates to fill the Lakers' vacant position, Redick is the only one without an established coaching background. The 16-year veteran, who retired in 2021, has ties to Los Angeles star LeBron James, and the two will officiate the game. mind the game Podcast together.
It's unclear who the Lakers will focus on recruiting if Dallas keeps Kidd for an extension, but they would be a long-term option after Darvin Ham was fired after two seasons. We are looking for players who have high expectations.
