The Knicks continue to strike out on their top targets to replace Tom Thibodeau.
On Wednesday, the Mavericks denied the Knicks permission to interview head coach Jason Kidd for the same position, according to multiple reports. The franchise has also reportedly been denied permission to speak with Rockets coach Ime Udoka, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, Hawks coach Quin Snyder, and Bulls coach Billy Donovan.
Former head coaches such as Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins remain on the market.
Thibodeau was fired on June 3 after leading the Knicks to their first conference finals in 25 years and the organization’s most successful run since the Patrick Ewing era. Thibodeau ran a full page ad in The New York Times on Wednesday thanking his organization for his tenure.
“When I was hired in 2020 I said this was my dream job,” Thibodeau wrote in his takeout. “I am grateful that dream became a reality.”
Despite the Mavericks’ rejection, Newsday reported that the Knicks will continue to pursue Kidd, who played the final season of his Hall of Fame career with the team from 2012–13. He also coached Knicks star Jalen Brunson during his first season as Mavericks head coach.
Kidd was unaware of the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Lakers in February and didn’t seem to enjoy facing the media after the shocking deal. And despite the team winning the draft lottery in May, Dallas likely faces a tougher path to contention than the Knicks do next season while Kyrie Irving rehabs his torn ACL. ESPN has previously reported that there is mutual interest between Kidd and the Knicks.
Hiring a sitting head coach from another team is rare, but not unheard of. If a team grants permission for another to talk to its head coach, the teams involved can work out compensation. Coincidentally, Kidd was the last coach to be traded, when he was acquired by the Bucks in 2014 for two-second round picks to the Nets. It can also be a leverage play to get a new contract or influence in the organization; Kidd left the Nets after failing to get control of player personnel from the front office.
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright—who coached the trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges in college—informed the team last week he’s not interested in the job, according to multiple reports.
Another candidate who remains an option is former Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, who was Thibodeau’s associate head coach his first four seasons in New York before taking the same position with the Cavaliers this past season. Bryant recently finished as a runner-up to Jordan Ott for the Suns’ job.
The Knicks can bring back their entire starting five next season, partially thanks to Brunson’s discounted contract extension. One star who apparently won’t be joining them is Kevin Durant. The New York Post reported Wednesday that the Knicks would not trade for Durant this summer.
The Eastern Conference is expected to be wide open, with the Celtics likely shedding salary (and missing Jayson Tatum), and the Bucks’ future uncertain. But only Thibodeau has steered the Knicks this far in the last quarter-century; improving on his record could be harder than it looks.
