Tom Thibodeau has been the frontrunner for the New York Knicks' head coach job for the past four months. The longtime defensive specialist seemed poised to sign on the dotted line until Friday, when a mess in negotiations was reported, apparently putting Jason Kidd in the driver's seat.
Kidd had been one of the outside candidates behind Thibodeau and former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, but his leapfrogging of the two aforementioned only spells trouble for the Knicks' brass.
New president of basketball operations Leon Rose has surrounded himself with people in the entertainment business, but the basketball know-how will be important here.
Kidd had a strong rookie season as a coach back in 2013-14, but that soon came tumbling down after he asked the Nets for more power, resulting in an ugly breakup. Brooklyn was forced to trade Kidd to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for draft pick compensation.
Kidd had been lining up the trade with the Bucks while the organization still had coach Larry Drew under contract, something that left a sour taste in the mouths of other coaches around the league.
His four years in Milwaukee saw him help with the rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his demanding nature, questionable coaching tactics, and iffy rapport with players sent him packing after the Bucks struggled to build a contender under his watch.
The former dime maestro was willing to take an assistant role under Frank Vogel in Los Angeles, knowing that would only open doors for his next destination.
That time has come, but the Knicks would be silly to think hiring Jason Kidd would come without complications. Part of the allure of hiring Kidd is his connection to stars in the league, like Giannis, who could soon test free agency.
But the capacity to help a struggling team find better footing is something that evaluators have yet to see.
Kidd may have ties to stars, but what good is that if the rest of the team ends up hating him for it?
Also worth noting is that Thibodeau's failed contract negotiations took place with CEO James Dolan, not Rose at the other side of the table. Any deal made with Dolan is one the team has come to regret.
A deal between Kidd (played his last games with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season) and Dolan (has a reputation for making poor hiring choices) just smells of malcontent and discord after a few months on the job.
The Knicks, regardless of whom they hire, are best letting Rose and his emissaries work out the kinks of the deal, especially with something as sensitive as hiring what would be the eighth coach in the past 10 years.
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