Knicks Rumors: Jason Kidd would be a wrong choice for New York

Rumors say that Jason Kidd is one of the candidates for the New York Knicks coaching vacancy. But at least one person who worked with him in the NBA thinks he’s the wrong man for the job.

“I wouldn’t hire Jason Kidd if he was the last standing coach,” that person told Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It would be a terrible choice. There is a reason why Milwaukee is in the place where they are right now – coaching.”

Kidd, an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, has spent more than three seasons as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, going 139-152 with two post-season appearances (both defeated in the first round).

Mike Budenholzer, meanwhile, has gone 113-34 since he took over as Bucks’ coach before the 2018-19 season. He has two places in the playoffs (the Bucks have already gotten a post-season spot this season) and made a trip to the Eastern Conference finals last year.

Of course, not everyone in the NBA believes that Kidd would be a bust in New York.

“He is a Hall of Fame player and an innovative young coach who has learned from his past mistakes,” a staff manager told Berman. “I think the young Knicks players would relate to him. Whether it’s a factor for Giannis [Antetokounmpo], wherever [Kidd] goes as manager, that team will surely sit at that dining table when the time comes.”

That source referred to the potential free agency of Antetokounmpo after the 2020-21 season. A team like the Knicks, which seeks to transform its future by undoubtedly signing the best NBA player, will go hard after the Greek Freak (assuming it hasn’t signed an extension before then or that it chooses to stay in Milwaukee).

And the fact that Kidd coached Antetokounmpo could give an advantage to any team led by Kidd.

“LeBron [James] loves Kidd,” a team manager told Berman. “But Giannis swears it.”

So there are conflicting opinions as to whether Kidd would be suitable for the Knicks or whether he might be able to help persuade Antetokounmpo to leave Milwaukee. The Knicks entered the agency for the better part of a decade, so putting all their eggs in the Antetokounmpo basket would be a huge risk.

In other words, if Kidd wasn’t their best candidate based on coaching merit – and it should be noted that it could be – the Knicks would be wise to go in a different direction.