06-10-2025, 11:08 AM
(06-10-2025, 01:04 AM)F Gump Wrote: I really disagree on this ^ thesis.
I don't think Kidd (or ANY smart coach) -- nor any smart player, either -- should or would shut the door on teams who are interested in their services. Players and coaches alike are always one impulsive (maybe even stupid) management decision away from looking for their next job, and are smart to let interested people remain interested. No need to comment, just let it sit out there without commenting, because the fact that teams are interested in you is in your best interest for every team to know. Kidd has had to look for a new job before and has learned how it works. So we should not expect him to shut it down when it happens, to work against his own self interest.
In addition, Kidd can't actually speak to NY's interest (or his own) when there hasn't even been a public expression of interest by NY, nor a formal request to talk to him.
At its core, this was actually a NY attempt to tamper via the media. Then that NY media swirled the waters, with it being further stirred by the usual like Windy who are long on comments and short on actual info beyond their own opinions on what makes sense. They will keep it alive until NY finds a coach not named Kidd.
If the Mavs GM had a clue on handling such things (sadly, he does not), he would gotten out in front of it, by either lodging a tampering complaint, or engaging NY aggressively in trade talks. His pathetically late and tepid response has done neither -- yet another blunder by the idiot GM making their decisions. If I'm a Mavs player, the continuous lack of effective FO leadership is unsettling.
Which is yet another reminder -- Nico's gotta go.
Maybe Kidd is taking that approach, but I think that hurts the organization. The Mavs are about to bring their future #1 pick in for another visit. They're trying to hire assistant coaches. They need to re-sign Kyrie when he opts out. They'll also be looking at the free agent market trying to bring in guard help.
Having a coach who is unwilling to say he's committed to staying with the team is a terrible look that isn't going to help them with any of the above. It would be pretty disappointing if Kidd is letting that happen because he wants the attention. All he has to do is send one text so Stein can report sources say Kidd is staying in Dallas.
The Mavs front office could be more forceful about it publicly, but it doesn't achieve anything if Kidd walks into Nico's office and says he wants to talk to the Knicks.