Fansided

Could Cal legend Jason Kidd be the Bears next head coach?

By Brad Berreman

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 05: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Bradley Center on January 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 05: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Bradley Center on January 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Cal reportedly has Jason Kidd atop their list of candidates to replace Wyking Jones, but is he really the right fit?

When Cuonzo Martin left Cal for Missouri, Wyking Jones was promoted to head coach. But after two seasons, a 16-47 record (5-31 in Pac-12 play) and apparently a meeting, Jones was fired on Sunday. As athletic director Jim Knowlton leads a search for a new men’s basketball coach, John Canzano of The Oregonian has reported Jason Kidd is the primary target in Berkeley.

Kidd is a Cal alum, playing two seasons there before being drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1994 NBA Draft. After a Hall of Fame playing career, he served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets for one season and the Milwaukee Bucks for three-plus seasons before being fired 45 games into the 2017-18 season.

Canzano added Nevada coach Eric Musselman and UC-Irvine coach Russell Turner to the early short list of candidates for Cal, with Montana coach Travis Decuire also being mentioned as a candidate.

Kidd drew ire for his old-school ways, particularly at the end of his tenure in Milwaukee. But if Cal wants him, it seems they have some looming competition.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Kidd would be one of the serious candidates for the Los Angeles Lakers’ job if (or more likely when) Luke Walton is fired. With that possibility in play, Kidd would necessarily have pause about pursuing the job at his alma mater.

If Kidd wants to see what head coaching jobs open up in the NBA, that would quickly put him on the back burner for Cal. Waiting nearly a month to hire a new coach surely isn’t the plan, especially as other schools jump to try to hire Musselman, Turner or any other rising candidate. Loyalty to Kidd as an alum can only go so far.

Next. 5 candidates to replace Avery Johnson at Alabama. dark

The Lakers may wind up doing Cal a huge favor by fueling reports of their interest in Kidd. He’ll probably be compelled to wait then, with one eye constantly on the NBA no matter where he goes from here. In the meantime, the Golden Bears can get a coach who is more than a big name, is a modern thinker and is likely to be far more committed to rebuilding the program.