The Portland Trail Blazers have an extensive list of coaching candidates as Tom Dundon considers replacing Tiago Splitter. While there hasn't been any confirmed link between Portland and Jason Kidd, the former Dallas Mavericks head coach is yet another potential candidate to keep an eye on.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Saturday that Kidd has "quietly been connected to Portland within league circles."
Interestingly, Scotto notes that Kidd was the coach Damian Lillard wanted during the Blazers' coaching search in 2021. "Jason Kidd is the guy I want," Lillard told Yahoo Sports.
Will Blazers pursue Jason Kidd for Damian Lillard?
The Blazers' superstar didn't get his wish back then, with Portland ultimately hiring Chauncey Billups. That, umm, didn't quite work out, to put it gently. But could they go with another former point guard this time around in Kidd?
He stands out among the long list of candidates as one of the few with head-coaching experience at the NBA level. Many of the candidates appear to be current assistants, which could be by design, given Tom Dundon's rumored low-ball offers.
Kidd should be a high priority as someone with a proven track record, especially given the upside of him potentially unlocking the inconsistent backcourt duo of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
But the fact that Kidd does have that proven resume could, ironically, hurt Lillard's chances of finally getting his guy. Scotto adds that Portland is "projected to have the lowest-paying head coach in the league by the end of the team's search."
Jason Kidd could be out of Tom Dundon's price range
GM Joe Cronin has previously said he's not worried about Dundon's willingness to pay for the right coach, but reports and even the list of candidates contradict that. Of the known finalists, the only one who would likely come at a premium is Jeff Van Gundy.
Scotto also reports that Dundon's stinginess has already caused Portland to miss out on candidates at the college and NBA levels, as they have declined the Blazers' interest. That could very well be the case with Kidd, whose remaining contract in Dallas is worth $40 million over four years.
Scotto concludes the Kidd rumors by saying the "stars may not align on paper for a pairing with Kidd at this juncture, there's been enough scuttlebutt leaguewide worth keeping tabs on looking ahead."
Several variables could prevent this scenario from playing out. Plenty has changed since 2021, and it remains to be seen whether Lillard is still that adamant about Kidd being the right guy for the job. Mathematically speaking, any of these coaches currently in discussions for the Blazers' job is unlikely to get it, given how long the list still is. And then with Kidd specifically, there's the issue of Dundon's willingness to pay up.
Hopefully, he does advance in the process, as Kidd could be the right fit for this team with sudden win-now aspirations. Time will tell if Lillard gets his old wish, but it remains a situation to monitor given his previously stated desire.
Add us as a preferred source on Google