Recent reports of Jason Kidd being among the candidates to take over the Brooklyn Nets have fans wondering “what if” the Nets are forced to swallow their own decision only six years after the fact.

Kidd, who played a giant role in the franchise's surge in the early 2000s as a point guard, took the helm immediately after retiring from basketball in 2013. After his first season as a coach, he was traded to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer of 2014 after only one season at the helm.

The Bucks gave the Nets two future second-round draft picks in exchange — one in 2015 and the other in 2019.

Jason Kidd had been reportedly seeking more decision-making power from the executive ranks, which irked then-general manager Billy King. That was believed to be the reason both parties parted ways so early in their agreement.

Fast forward six years later and Kidd is among the top names to take over for the since-fired Kenny Atkinson, along with Tyronn Lue and ESPN commentators Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy.

So what would make it different this time around?

For one, the pieces. Kidd was fresh out of retirement after playing for the New York Knicks in 2012-13. He turned around and had to coach some of his contemporaries in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Joe Johnson.

His clashes with them ultimately looked like they might sour things, but Kidd finished with a 44-38 record in 2013-14 and beat the Toronto Raptors in a vital Game 7 before losing to a LeBron James-led Miami Heat 4-1 in the next round.

The horizon is very different now, with Sean Marks (also a former NBA player) in charge of the front office and a new owner that's determined to play the long game, unlike an inpatient Mikhail Prokhorov.

The most important linchpin here is Kidd was one of Irving's idols growing up as a loyal follower of the New Jersey Nets. Irving watched those early 2000s teams comprised of Kidd, Kerry Kittles, Richard Jefferson, and Kenyon Martin run through the East.

That idolatry is perhaps the first step at gaining Irving's respect, as well as Kevin Durant's. Unlike Pierce and Garnett, these two are younger and have an appreciation for his Hall of Fame career.

Atkinson, whether by fault of his own or not, simply did not have the respect of this superstar core duo, and that manifested in his decision to mutually part ways with the franchise before the end of the 2019-20 season.

Irving reportedly does not want a reunion with former head coach Tyronn Lue, even though the latter is interested in getting another head-coaching chance.

Mark Jackson has been out of the coaching game since 2014 after getting fired by the Golden State Warriors and succeeded by current coach Steve Kerr.

Van Gundy coached as recently as last year by qualifying Team USA to a FIBA World Cup berth, but he's yet to roam NBA sidelines since losing in the first round of the playoffs with the Houston Rockets.

Jason Kidd seems like the lone candidate that fits into this equation, considering the aforementioned.

The Nets might have to swallow a hard pill after trading Kidd away after one season, but it's only crazy to give him the head coaching job if it doesn't work.

Brooklyn would be smart to prioritize a coach that can deal with Irving and Durant's constant mood swings and one that has proven to cater to stars.

Lue has more experience coaching a superteam after doing so with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but Kidd forged a star in Giannis Antetokounmpo. That alone has more value for a franchise that will need player development, something that Lue hasn't necessarily proved with a veteran team at his disposal.

The Nets might be laughed up for hiring Jason Kidd after letting him go six years ago, but the laughter will only last until the Nets start winning with him at the helm.