Jason Kidd Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nets Deciding Between Jason Kidd, Brian Shaw

June 11th, 2013 at 8:29pm CST by Luke Adams

8:29pm: The Nets have narrowed their search to just Kidd and Shaw, reports Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press.

7:49pm: TNT's David Aldridge bats down rumors that Kidd and the Nets have already begun contract negotiations, and reiterates that the team will interview Shaw on Wednesday (Twitter link).

5:10pm: The Nets were "very impressed" with Kidd after yesterday's interview, sources tell Howard Beck of The New York Times, who adds that there's no indication the team will turn to Lionel Hollins, whom they've yet to contact (Twitter links).

2:45pm: Despite Kidd's apparent lead, Shaw still has a shot at the job and will interview as planned tomorrow, reports Sam Amick of USA Today (via Twitter).

2:04pm: Jason Kidd has emerged as the strong frontrunner for the Nets' open head coaching job, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. For now, the club still has a Wednesday interview scheduled with Brian Shaw, who had previously been considered the top candidate for the position, but it's unclear if that meeting will happen, says Wojnarowski.

According to Wojnarowski, talks for a potential contract with Kidd are already underway, and the longtime All-Star point guard could be hired by the end of the week. Kidd represents the sort of "fresh face" the franchise is seeking, and would give the Nets a hire with some starpower as well, as Wojnarowski points out.

If Kidd does land the job, it would be a pretty incredible turnaround, considering that a week and a half ago it still seemed as if he was set to play for the Knicks in 2013/14. Kidd announced his retirement as a player last Monday, and almost immediately rumors begin to swirl connecting him to Brooklyn's coaching opening.

Yesterday, we heard that Kidd was being seriously considered by the Nets, while this morning, over half of you voted in favor of Brooklyn hiring Kidd over a more experienced candidate like Shaw or Lionel Hollins. For his part, Shaw is interviewing with the Clippers today and considers that job his priority, according to Wojnarowski.

Poll: Should The Nets Hire Jason Kidd?

June 11th, 2013 at 10:23am CST by Luke Adams

It's only been eight days since Jason Kidd announced his retirement as an NBA player, but already he has emerged as one of the leading candidates for perhaps the most high-profile head coaching job still available. According to multiple reports, there's mutual interest between Kidd and the Nets, with the two sides meeting yesterday to discuss the team's open coaching position.

The Nets are also said to be seriously considering highly-coveted assistant Brian Shaw, and have more established head coaches like Lionel Hollins on their radar as well, so Kidd is hardly the most qualified candidate on their list. Still, players and coaches alike rave about the longtime point guard's basketball IQ, and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Kidd convinced the Nets that he was serious about committing the necessary time and energy to the job.

What do you think? Would hiring Kidd as their head coach be the best move for the Nets, or should the team opt for someone with more coaching experience, such as Shaw or Hollins?

Nets Seriously Considering Jason Kidd As Coach

June 10th, 2013 at 5:36pm CST by Zachary Links

5:36pm: Kidd's candidacy for the Nets' opening is gaining momentum, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, who says Kidd convinced Brooklyn of his seriousness in committing the time and energy to a head coaching job. The Nets, who are intrigued by the possibility of making a "star hire," could make a decision within the next several days, says Wojnarowski. Brian Shaw is the team's other top candidate, with an interview lined up for Wednesday.

3:00pm: The Nets are taking Kidd seriously as a head coaching candidate, but he must surround himself with lots of experience on the bench, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). A key element of Kidd's pitch is former Nets head coach Lawrence Frank joining him on the bench (link).

2:30pm: The Nets met with Jason Kidd earlier today to discuss his interest in the club's vacant head coaching position, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. We learned yesterday that the recently-retired guard has interest in taking the reins in Brooklyn and the Nets are at least considering the possibility.

Kidd's candidacy is being discussed in the highest levels of the organization, which presumably means that it involves the group of Russian executives that report directly to owner Mikhail Prokhorov. Sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports yesterday that Kidd is already working to identify a group of assistant coaches that can help offset his lack of experience.

Jason Kidd Pursuing Nets Coaching Job

June 9th, 2013 at 5:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Less than two weeks removed from his retirement, Jason Kidd is seeking to become the next head coach of the Nets, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The guard's candidacy is already being discussed within the highest levels of the organization.

Kidd has been talking with associates about the possibility of making the immediate leap from playing to a head coaching job and has been working to identify a staff of assistant coaches who could help him overcome the significant learning curve, sources said. Right now, Brian Shaw is viewed as a leading candidate for the Nets' job, but they'll have to fight it out with the Clippers and Nuggets in order to secure him. Kidd would be an extremely bold choice for the Nets but it would certainly satisfy the organization's desire for a big splash this summer.

Atlantic Notes: Kidd, Knicks, Larkin, C’s, Sixers

June 4th, 2013 at 9:05am CST by Luke Adams

Already today, we've passed along word that J.R. Smith will decline his player option, but is likely to re-sign with the Knicks. There are plenty of other news items and rumors floating around the web this morning, relating to the Knicks and their Atlantic rivals, so let's round up the latest out of the division:

After announcing his retirement yesterday, Jason Kidd told ESPN Radio (link via Marc Berman of the New York Post) that he thinks the Knicks have a "solid foundation," though the team may have to make a couple upgrades this summer.
According to both Berman and Nate Taylor of the New York Times, Kidd will forgo the final two years and $6.18MM remaining on his contract. Assuming that's true, it's a nice break for the Knicks, considering teams often agree to buyouts with retiring players. It likely won't give New York any additional cap flexibility, since the team is still in the tax, but at the very least it will reduce that tax bill.
Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald explores whether Shane Larkin may be a fit for the Celtics at No. 16 in this month's draft.
Although Michael Malone was on the Sixers' wish list back when Tony DiLeo, rather than Sam Hinkie, was running the team's coaching search, John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out the Kings' hiring of Malone further diminishes Philadelphia's pool of head coach targets.
Over at Philly.com, Michael Levien of SBNation.com is skeptical of a rumor linking the Sixers to free-agent-to-be Josh Smith, writing that he's "very confident" Philadelphia won't be the team that gives the forward a big-money, long-term contract.

Knicks Notes: Kidd, Selby, Draft

June 3rd, 2013 at 7:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Knicks fans got a bit of surprising news earlier today when Jason Kidd announced that he is retiring. The future Hall of Famer still had two seasons and $6.18MM remaining on his three-year contract with the Knicks and despite his shooting woes to close out the Knicks' season, he had a strong 2012/13 campaign on the whole. Here's more on Kidd and other notes out of MSG..

The NBA will miss Kidd’s presence on the court, but don’t be surprised if he surfaces in the NBA next season as a coach, writes Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld. I could certainly see Kidd taking a run at coaching, but it may not be right away.
Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter) says to keep an eye on Josh Selby in free agency. The guard's priority is figuring out his summer league and then signing with a team, though its not known if the Knicks have interest yet. For what it's worth, Selby and Carmelo Anthony are friends from their days in Baltimore and are still close. Anthony was hoping the Knicks would draft Selby in 2011, but he went to the Grizzlies in the second round instead.
Point guard prospect Nate Wolters out of South Dakota State will be working out for the Knicks, Zwerling tweets. Wolters is a projected late first/early second round pick.
Nets GM Billy King issued a statement on Kidd's retirement. "[Kidd] was the captain of the Nets during their most successful period in the NBA, and is considered the greatest player in the Nets' NBA history. On behalf of the entire Brooklyn Nets organization, we congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career," King said, according to the AP. With all due respect for Kidd, Drazen Petrovic is considered by some to be the greatest Nets player in their NBA history.

Coaching Rumors: Karl, JVG, Clips, Hollins, Nets

June 3rd, 2013 at 2:52pm CST by Luke Adams

After we heard yesterday that there are some question marks surrounding George Karl's future in Denver, TNT's David Aldridge echoes that report, writing that the head coach is "antsy" about his current situation. According to Aldridge, the Nuggets don't plan to exercise the 2014/15 option on Karl's contract, which means he'll be on an expiring contract in '13/14.

"They want to play it out and see where they're at," one league source tells Aldridge. "And they're not going to budge on that."

As Aldridge notes, the Nuggets don't appear to actively be seeking a replacement for Karl, but if he wants to leave for a more lucrative opportunity when his current deal runs out, the team may not be inclined to stop him.

Here are a few more of the latest coaching-related rumblings from around the league:

Jeff Van Gundy and the Clippers talked multiple times about the team's head coaching job, but discussions are now dormant, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Van Gundy was reportedly at or near the top of L.A.'s wish list, but it doesn't sound as if he's a serious candidate at this point.
Two of the Nets' top coaching targets may become available for interviews within the next few days, as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post writes, pointing to Lionel Hollins and Brian Shaw. In fact, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter), the Nets formally requested permission today to interview Hollins.
The newly-retired Jason Kidd has interest in coaching, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Vitaly Potapenko, who was a Cavaliers lottery pick way back in 1996, will return to Cleveland as an assistant coach to Mike Brown, tweets Wojnarowski.

Jason Kidd Retires

June 3rd, 2013 at 11:28am CST by Luke Adams

Jason Kidd has decided to end his playing career and has retired, the Knicks officially announced today (Twitter link). The veteran point guard still had two seasons and $6.18MM remaining on his three-year contract with New York.

"[Agent] Jeff [Schwartz] and I and my family had been talking this past weekend," Kidd told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. "We talked a lot and we felt it was the right time to move on and so we notified the Knicks. They were kind of taken aback. We told them [earlier] that I wanted to come back and play. But this weekend was when we got a chance to relax [and really think about it]. It is the right thing to do."

As recently as last Thursday, we heard that Kidd remained undecided about his future, though it sounded as if he was leaning toward returning next season with the Knicks. While the 40-year-old played a key role for the Knicks during the regular season, he struggled mightily during the playoffs, making just three baskets overall and going for 0-for-17 from the field with no points in the team's final 10 games.

For his career, the future Hall-of-Famer averaged 12.6 PPG, 8.7 APG, and 6.3 RPG in nearly 1400 total contests. He was named to 10 All-Star teams, won a championship in 2011 with the Mavericks, and also earned co-Rookie of the Year honors back in 1995 with Grant Hill, who also retired this week. As Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com notes (via Twitter), Kidd currently ranks second overall among the NBA's all-time assists and steals leaders, and ranks third in career triple doubles.

Kidd's retirement could slightly reduce the Knicks' luxury-tax bill, depending on whether or not his full annual salaries of $3.09MM remain on the team's books for each of the next two seasons. However, the club will now have a hole to fill at the point — with Pablo Prigioni facing free agency, Raymond Felton will be the only point guard still on the roster.

Kidd Still Deciding On Future

May 30th, 2013 at 6:18pm CST by Ryan Raroque

ESPN New York's Ohm Youngmisuk spotted Knicks guard Jason Kidd at a charity event in New York city this evening, and heard "that's the plan" when the 40-year-old veteran was asked if he is coming back next season. Kidd added that he'll take the next couple of days to think about whether or not he'll decide to return, and if so, it would be with the Knicks (Twitter links). Having just completed his 18th season in the NBA, the 6'4 guard is still under contract for two more seasons at about $3.09MM per year.

Marc Berman of the New York Post followed up with an article that shared some of the specifics of Jason's comments, later mentioning that Kidd had told Knicks GM Glen Grunwald last week that he had planned on returning:

"I am thinking about it. We’ll see. I have to make a decision. We’ll see what happens. Right now I plan on coming back but in the next couple of days or a week or so, I’m going to think about it if I should keep playing or trying something different…There’s a lot different stuff I may have the opportunity to do,’’ said Kidd. “If I play, I plan on playing for the Knicks.’’

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Watson, Sund, Knicks, White

May 21st, 2013 at 9:07pm CST by Alex Lee

Here are some notes from the only division in the East with no team left standing:

While the timing is unclear, C.J. Watson's former agent, Jared Karnes, confirmed that Watson is now represented by Excel Sports, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Watson, who played 19 minutes per game for the Nets this year, owns a player option for the league minimum next season and told Bondy last month he'd love to return to Brooklyn.
Besides Masai Ujiri and Kevin Pritchard – names that we've already heard – the Raptors are also considering Rick Sund for their newly available general manager position, report Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today.
In the wake of the Knicks playoff exit this weekend, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News offers his thoughts, via Twitter, on what Glen Grunwald and company must do in the offseason to improve. While they are hindered by cap issues, Isola tweets that the Knicks should try to find a way to add unrestricted free agent Kyle Korver, and then draft a point guard or a big man in June. Isola also tweets that he believes Jason Kidd's time in New York is over, despite what Grunfeld said, but hopes the team persuades Pablo Prigioni to stay.
According to his agent, James White is unlikely to return to the Knicks next season if they don't pick up his option, reports Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York. William McCandless, White's agent, is confident that his client will garner NBA interest this offseason but because White values playing time, he has no problem going back overseas to continue his career.