The New York Knicks recently parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. It signals an internal belief that despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, the franchise didn't feel as close to lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy as that might suggest.
There were accusations of an unimaginative offense. One that didn't get enough out of Mikal Bridges despite the spark he provided while Jalen Brunson was out with an injury. Rather than evolving into a more dynamic attack upon Brunson's return, Bridges seemed relegated to his previous, underutilized role.
There were also in-season flare-ups with core players like Bridges and Josh Hart. Plus, the taxing minutes Thibodeau placed on the top seven members of New York's rotation.
That didn't change until a 2-0 deficit against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals forced Thibodeau's hand. As of that point in the playoffs, Cameron Payne was third on the team in postseason minutes despite averaging 7.2 per game.
Extending the rotation paid off in the form of productive minutes from Delon Wright and Landry Shamet. However, the Knicks were unable to dig out of the hole they dug by squandering the first two tilts at Madison Square Garden.
There are valid reasons for firing Thibodeau. However, there's no guarantee his replacement outdoes the 2021 NBA Coach of the Year, who took the Knicks to heights they hadn't seen in a quarter of a century.
Knicks may turn to Celtics nemesis to replace Tom Thibodeau
According to NBA insider Marc Stein via his Substack, The Stein Line, New York is expected to pursue the possibility of luring Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks.
"The New York Knicks are expected to formally request permission to speak to the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd about their coaching vacancy in coming days, league sources say," reports Stein.
It was only a year ago that Kidd and the Mavericks, led by a 25-year-old franchise star whose trading seemed unimaginable, squared off against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
There, Dallas' bench boss labeled Jaylen Brown Boston's best player, trying to stir the pot between the soon-to-be Finals MVP and Jayson Tatum. While the move drew the ire of Celtics fans, the locker room Kidd attempted to divide laughed it off.
"J-Kidd, man," chuckled Al Horford. "I see what he is doing."
The move didn't work on the Celtics' stars, either.
"This is a team sport, right?" responded Tatum. "We understand that. We wouldn't be here if we didn't have JB on our team, and we can say that for a lot of guys. We have all played a part in getting to where we're at. We understand that people try to drive a wedge between us. I guess it's a smart thing to do or try to do. We've been in this position for many of years of guys trying to divide us and say that one of us should be traded or one is better than the other. So it's not our first time at the rodeo."
Brown voiced about Kidd's tactical praise, "We've been just extremely focused on what our roles and our jobs are. We have all had to sacrifice. Jason [Kidd] has had to do that at the highest of levels, and I respect him and tip his cap for it. Right now, at this point, it's whatever it takes to win, and we can't let any outside interpretations try to get in between."
A return to New York and the chance to play more mind games with the Celtics might entice Kidd to leave Dallas.
The Hall of Fame floor general finished his career with the Knicks in 2012-13. Perhaps the Mavericks' defying the odds, overcoming a 1.8 percent chance at the No. 1 pick., positioning themselves to draft a new face of the franchise in Cooper Flagg motivates Kidd to stay.
However, the Western Conference is a gauntlet. Furthermore, if he wasn't on board with management on the decision to trade Doncic, it could make the prospect of trying to lead New York to its first NBA championship since 1972-73 an opportunity that Kidd will push for.
His relocation would figure to require draft compensation from the Knicks. However, if Kidd wants to leave, Dallas may not want to retain him against his will.
Back in the East, Kidd could prove essential to future playoff battles between New York and Boston.
