The Dallas Mavericks made their final call on the New York Knicks‘ bid to poach their head coach.
On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks firmly rejected the Knicks’ request to interview their reported top choice, Jason Kidd, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. It was the third straight strike for the Knicks.
“The New York Knicks requested permission Wednesday morning to speak to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd – and Dallas gave a firm rejection, sources tell ESPN. Knicks have been denied now on Kidd, Minnesota’s Chris Finch and Houston’s Ime Udoka,” Charania wrote on X.
A move to the Knicks would have given Kidd a healthy raise and longer security. Kidd has two years left on his deal with the Mavericks. He and Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse are the seventh-highest paid NBA coaches with an $8.5 million annual salary, according to Front Office Sports.
Thibodeau was among the fourth-highest-paid coaches in the NBA, averaging $11 million annually before his firing. He had a $30 million-plus guaranteed money after signing a three-year extension last year.
The Mavericks want Kidd to coach presumptive No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg out of Duke, alongside Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving (when he returns from his ACL injury) in a team that has championship expectations.
According to The Athletic, Kidd is ultimately hoping to parlay the Knicks’ interest into a lucrative contract extension. The Mavericks extended Kidd when he drew strong interest from the Los Angeles Lakers for their coaching vacancy last offseason.
Jason Kidd, Mavericks to Host Cooper Flagg
With the Mavericks finally putting an end to the Kidd-Knicks drama, they could now shift their focus to hosting Flagg ahead of the NBA Draft.
According to ESPN, Flagg will visit Dallas for a private workout with the Mavericks on June 17. The report added that the Mavericks are not planning to conduct any workouts for other draft prospects, and neither is Flagg, who will not make additional visits to other teams.
Kidd has been the Mavericks spokesman since they stunningly won the NBA Draft lottery with just a 1.8% probability. He revealed in recent appearance on “DLLS Mavs Show” that he’s been studying Flagg’s films in anticipation of the Mavericks drafting the Duke star.
“I see a young man who is only 18 years old who can do a lot of things,” Kidd told the DLLS Mavs.
Why Mavericks is the Best Situation for Cooper Flagg
In another interview on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Kidd said the Mavericks provide the best situation for Flagg.
“I think this is a great situation for him,” Kidd told Dan Patrick. “When you talk about the other clubs, he would have to produce right away at a high, high level. Here, the pressure of living up to number one will be a lot easier with the talent around him.”
Flagg jumps into the NBA with heightened expectations after winning nearly every major national player of the year award. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his one-and-done-season at Duke, leading the Blue Devils (35-4) to a Final Four appearance.
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