Jason Kidd OUT! Who will be the Mavs' next HC?

[michaeltex]

I do think the Luka trade, and Kidd's involvement in it, played a part here. But, when they talk about "in-fighting," I think what they're dancing around is that Kidd has been increasingly focused on finding angles to position himself higher and higher in the front office. We know that the original plan was for Harrison to be promoted to president, Kidd to become GM and then Sweeney to become Head Coach. Like, we basically know that. Where that plan went off the rails, I don't think we know, but there's smoke out there that when Sweeney left it was about Harrison, and multiple people have said some variation of "if Harrison had been the sole decision maker last summer, Kidd would've become the head coach of the Knicks." So...yeah, things had gotten pretty weird by then, I think it's safe to say. 

I think this coaching change (from the POV's of both Kidd and the organization) was about Kidd being more interested in the jobs Ujiri and Schmitz just got than actually coaching the team. I think all involved recognized that, and for Ujiri's part I believe he rightly recognized that the first step in healing the organization is to build a structure in which everyone was focused on doing their own job and excited about working together as a team. I think keeping Kidd around would've been an invitation for more in-fighting, backstabbing and manipulation.

EDIT: I don't know how the Sweeney thing played out, exactly, but I kind of think he's an extreme long shot to be the next head coach here.

I mean Kidd did go from player to HC (with Brooklyn) from one season to the next. Then he tried a power play that off season that ended up getting him traded, as a coach, to MKE. So I guess you could say he has a history of these type moves and the new leadership didn't want any opportunity for it to crop up again.

[Winter]

I mean Kidd did go from player to HC (with Brooklyn) from one season to the next. Then he tried a power play that off season that ended up getting him traded, as a coach, to MKE. So I guess you could say he has a history of these type moves and the new leadership didn't want any opportunity for it to crop up again.

Agree with this. Really you can see how this would play out when Nico was hired and Cuban sold the team. At that point, the situation is really a power vacuum that needed to be filled and wasn't. There were no owners, no true GM, and really no one answered to anyone. That's a situation that won't end well when you have personalities seeking power. That environment lasted almost a year. 

Some of this is on Cuban for leaving the place a mess. Then no meaningful press conference press conference for months ...until Ujiri really.

It was nice to see the head coach change .... and a press conference less than 14 hours later. That counts for something in my book.

[Jmaciscool]

Agree with this. Really you can see how this would play out when Nico was hired and Cuban sold the team. At that point, the situation is really a power vacuum that needed to be filled and wasn't. There were no owners, no true GM, and really no one answered to anyone. That's a situation that won't end well when you have personalities seeking power. That environment lasted almost a year. 

Some of this is on Cuban for leaving the place a mess. Then no meaningful press conference press conference for months ...until Ujiri really.

It was nice to see the head coach change .... and a press conference less than 14 hours later. That counts for something in my book.

Yes, it's incredibly refreshing to have the Mavs be run like a serious organization. Everyone's rowing in the same direction, which sounds like such a simple thing and yet it's something the Mavs haven't seemed to have had in a long time.

[KillerLeft]

Some of this is on Cuban for leaving the place a mess. Then no meaningful press conference press conference for months ...until Ujiri really.

It was nice to see the head coach change .... and a press conference less than 14 hours later. That counts for something in my book.

Couldn't agree more with the two points above. The "in-fighting" was baked into the Mavs' culture even before Cuban left. It seemed like the way he had it all set up encouraged it, even, kind of like the exquisite HBO show "Succession." I for one hope this summer marks the beginning, finally, of a professionally run organization focused on building something great. It's hard enough to do that when everyone is working together, almost impossible when everyone is constantly working behind the scenes angles to further their own, personal agendas. 

And...YES! Transparency (or a reasonably well constructed facade made to appear like transparency, at least). They used to do media/fan outreach pretty decently, which is one of the things Cuban got right during most of his tenure here, especially at the beginning. These past two years of Harrison doing it poorly and Dumont not really knowing how to fix that have been BRUTAL. We want to feel like the team is in good hands - like there's hope. We want to feel like adults have their hands on the wheel.

[Smitty]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney is expected to draw serious interest from the Mavericks after they parted ways with Jason Kidd, league sources told @ClutchPoints.

Dallas is also expected to reach out to Duke HC Jon Scheyer, but he is committed to his current position, sources said.

[Mavs2021]

I´m sure it´s just a nice side effect of all the moves, but Ujiri basically set the stage for Luka´s return. I´m sure it´s more like scenario T in the whole alphabet of plans Ujiri is making, but the Mavs are theoretically set-up to do it pretty easily.

[mvossman]

I´m sure it´s just a nice side effect of all the moves, but Ujiri basically set the stage for Luka´s return. I´m sure it´s more like scenario T in the whole alphabet of plans Ujiri is making, but the Mavs are theoretically set-up to do it pretty easily.

Still needs to get rid of Dumont.

[windjc]

Still needs to get rid of Dumont.

Dumont is doing an excellent job. He made ONE mistake - trusting Nico who he relied on for decision making. Everything else has been excellent - including getting rid of Cuban.

[mvossman]

Dumont is doing an excellent job. He made ONE mistake - trusting Nico who he relied on for decision making. Everything else has been excellent - including getting rid of Cuban.

I don't disagree.  But he didn't just sign off on Luka trade, he followed it up with a really stupid speech basically calling Luka a lazy bum.  My point was simply that Luka may not be excited to come back to play for Dumont (not that I think it likely he comes back regardless).  I do think Mavs FO situation is probably better than it ever has been.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I don't disagree.  But he didn't just sign off on Luka trade, he followed it up with a really stupid speech basically calling Luka a lazy bum.  My point was simply that Luka may not be excited to come back to play for Dumont (not that I think it likely he comes back regardless).  I do think Mavs FO situation is probably better than it ever has been.

I agree that Dumont sounded like an idiot post-trade, but let's not forget how Dan Gilbert typed out an angsty, tween like tweet in Comic Sans calling Lebron every name in the book. And even though it seemed like bridges were burned, Lebron went home. And let's not forget how Luka LOVES going home. Obviously, he can't play in Slovenia, but the closest thing to going home is to Dallas. I just don't see Luka as someone who would ever play the "look at me " free agency thing. I think the only two places he'll ever play is LA and Dallas. And the narrative of Luka going home to win a championship just seems...probable.

[mvossman]

I agree that Dumont sounded like an idiot post-trade, but let's not forget how Dan Gilbert typed out an angsty, tween like tweet in Comic Sans calling Lebron every name in the book. And even though it seemed like bridges were burned, Lebron went home. And let's not forget how Luka LOVES going home. Obviously, he can't play in Slovenia, but the closest thing to going home is to Dallas. I just don't see Luka as someone who would ever play the "look at me " free agency thing. I think the only two places he'll ever play is LA and Dallas. And the narrative of Luka going home to win a championship just seems...probable.

Different situation as Lebron bailed on Gilbert instead of the other way around.  I agree with your last sentence, except I think it much more likely he stays in LA.

[windjc]

I don't disagree.  But he didn't just sign off on Luka trade, he followed it up with a really stupid speech basically calling Luka a lazy bum.  My point was simply that Luka may not be excited to come back to play for Dumont (not that I think it likely he comes back regardless).  I do think Mavs FO situation is probably better than it ever has been.

Fair enough re: Dumont. I don't think Luka will remember those comments though. He doesn't have thin skin.

Yes, this is the best FO Dallas has ever had. Pre-Nellie Dallas was perpetually pathetic. Post Cuban they were a run by a nerd who was a lucky insecure 110 IQ billionaire.

Dumont has now put his stamp on it, and I like the look. I expect it will be a looong time before there is a new regime.

[Mavs2021]

I don't disagree.  But he didn't just sign off on Luka trade, he followed it up with a really stupid speech basically calling Luka a lazy bum.  My point was simply that Luka may not be excited to come back to play for Dumont (not that I think it likely he comes back regardless).  I do think Mavs FO situation is probably better than it ever has been.

True. I forgot about that part. He can easily sell the trade itself with the "I´m basketball stupid" defense, but the bolded part will be harder to pin on Nico/Kidd.

[Knutsen]

True. I forgot about that part. He can easily sell the trade itself with the "I´m basketball stupid" defense, but the bolded part will be harder to pin on Nico/Kidd.

Maybe publicly, but I hope that at least internally the backlash he deservedly got was his awakening that he has no clue about the sport and needs to hire competent people - applauding the work ethic of Shaq trying to criticize Luka and forgetting Dirk is one of one stupid.

I mean he learned fast - Jerry Jones never reached that point, so there’s hope.

[cow]

I mean he learned fast - Jerry Jones never reached that point, so there’s hope.

Eh.  Jerry has a much better knowledge foundation of the sport he is in and does learn some even if he can be very stubborn in some areas.  Can't believe I'm defending Jerry, but I'd take him every day of the week and twice on Sunday over Dumont or Cuban.

[hakeemfaan]

Everyone who was part of the Luka deal needs to go. It was such a horrendous deal that staying quiet even due to fear of losing your job doesn’t merit a pass. Forget the merits of even dealing Luka. The returns got back amounted to professional malpractice or gross incompetence.

I am liking everything Masai is saying. His statement that we won’t just look at who makes us better right now and that every decision we make is based on Coop is what I wanted to hear from him. It kind of gives hint on the draft strategy as well given we know which players will most likely be around their pick.

[Winter]

Everyone who was part of the Luka deal needs to go. It was such a horrendous deal that staying quiet even due to fear of losing your job doesn’t merit a pass. Forget the merits of even dealing Luka. The returns got back amounted to professional malpractice or gross incompetence.

I am liking everything Masai is saying. His statement that we won’t just look at who makes us better right now and  that every decision we make is based on Coop is what I wanted to hear from him. It kind of gives hint on the draft strategy as well given we know which players will most likely be around their pick.

I agree with that first sentence, and it makes we wonder about Michael Finley. We won't ever know what any of staying or leaving means in regards to him, but I do wonder if they see him differently for a reason. Did I read somewhere that Finley spoke against the trade? I can't remember.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Everyone who was part of the Luka deal needs to go. It was such a horrendous deal that staying quiet even due to fear of losing your job doesn’t merit a pass. Forget the merits of even dealing Luka. The returns got back amounted to professional malpractice or gross incompetence.

I am liking everything Masai is saying. His statement that we won’t just look at who makes us better right now and  that every decision we make is based on Coop is what I wanted to hear from him. It kind of gives hint on the draft strategy as well given we know which players will most likely be around their pick.

I so wish this would've happened last off-season when AD'S value was said to have been five 1sts. I could've seen Masai selling the Pelicans on an AD return for their 1st last year and their 1st this year (before they made the dumb Hawks trade). Having Jeremiah Fears and #8 to go with Cooper would've been much better than the bag of space they got instead.

But, sadly, they decided to let Nico waste every last shred of value out of his man crush, AD.

[Winter]

I've been seeing several unflattering comments today - and one article - on Jason Kidd's personality. I think he's been better at not showing his gruff side since coach of the Mavs, but it does surface from time-to-time. At any rate, not many tears on his exit.

https://x.com/TrueHoop/status/2056894755879931951?s=20

[cow]

I've been seeing several unflattering comments today - and one article - on Jason Kidd's personality. I think he's been better at not showing his gruff side since coach of the Mavs, but it does surface from time-to-time. At any rate, not many tears on his exit.

https://x.com/TrueHoop/status/2056894755879931951?s=20

Not surprising considering how he handles himself in press conferences.