After reports that Jason Kidd would be a head coaching target for the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Dallas Mavericks head coach is “likely” going to receive a contract extension this summer.
“Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who like [Tyronn] Lue has only one season left on his current contract, would also be an obvious target for the Lakers — if Kidd were to become available,” Stein wrote. “That, however, is not expected to happen. League sources say Kidd is also the likely recipient of a contract extension in the near future, having led Dallas to two 50-win seasons and three playoff series wins in four attempts in his three seasons as Mavericks coach.
“I’m told that the Lakers, for their part, don’t anticipate Kidd becoming a coaching free agent any more than they expect to have a shot at Lue.”
Kidd, who took over as the Mavericks head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season, has led the team to a pair of playoff appearances and has notched 50-win seasons in two of his three years at the helm.
In 2022, he led Dallas to a Western Conference Finals appearance, where it fell short against the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.
After missing the postseason last year, Kidd and the Mavericks bounced back and beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round and now have a second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kidd is set to be a coaching free agent after the 2024-25 season, but given his success it seems the Mavericks will jump at the opportunity to extend him this offseason.
Keeping Kidd around would likely take away a potential candidate for the Lakers. Along with Kidd, the Lakers are reportedly pursuing Clippers coach Tyronn Lue and former NBA veteran J.J. Redick.
Stein noted that Lue also has just one season left on his contract, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that Los Angeles plans to pursue an extension this summer despite the Clippers’ first-round exit.
Of the three reported candidates to fill the Lakers’ vacant position, Redick is the only one without an established coaching background. The 16-year veteran, who retired in 2021, has ties to Los Angeles star LeBron James, as the two host the Mind the Game podcast together.
If Dallas retains Kidd with an extension, it’s not clear who the Lakers will focus on hiring, but they are looking for what they hope will be a long-term option after Darvin Ham was fired after two seasons.
