NBA Rumor: LeBron's Lakers Planning to Steal Mavs Head Coach Jason Kidd?
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd still has one year left on his contract following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, but after notching two 50-win seasons in three years, Kidd is hoping for a contract extension this summer.
If the Mavs don't give Kidd his extension, he could potentially look to coach elsewhere. According to a report from ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers are "pondering" making Kidd their next head coach after parting ways with Darvin Ham.
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Kidd has strong ties with Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as he was an assistant coach on the 2020 team that won an NBA championship. However, given Kidd's deep ties with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, GM Nico Harrison, and part-owner Mark Cuban, it's hard to see him leaving his current situation.
Kidd's three-year stint with the Mavs has been the best of his career as a head coach, and the current roster is built to contend for the next several years. Not to say this report by ESPN isn't true, but it could also potentially be a leverage play by Kidd to ensure he gets his contract extension.
When the dust settles, our educated guess is that Kidd will remain in Dallas on a new, long-term deal instead of entertaining jumping ship to join the Lakers. However, Kidd could still be coaching LeBron next season depending on how free agency unfolds.
“We just enjoy it," Kidd said after the Mavs eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games to advance to the second round of the playoffs. "But I don’t say much in front of the cameras. Once the cameras left, just enjoy it. We’ll have tomorrow off, regroup on Sunday and then focus on Oklahoma City. But they should enjoy it. To beat the Clippers is no easy task; it wasn’t a given, those guys earned it. To enjoy it. They have tomorrow off, and we’ll get back to work on Sunday.”
