Jason Kidd become Knicks’ coaching frontrunner after friction with Tom Thibodeau

Jason Kidd might be named head coach of the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks know that they need to hire a masterful player developer as their next head coach, as their plan to lure top free agents to MSG with the help of David Fizdale fell apart after they struck out in June and July before firing him early in the season. The Knicks seem set on either Jason Kidd or Tom Thibodeau, though the former is looking like the more likely option right now.

Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, The Knicks have turned their eyes towards Kidd, currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, as the club’s next head coach after owner James Dolan refused to give into Thibodeau’s contract demands.

Tom Thibodeau is likely not headed to the New York Knicks.

Thibodeau, who himself was an assistant on the legendary Knicks teams of the late 90s, has a respectable 352-246 record in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

While he did make the playoffs in all five of his seasons with the Bulls and helped the Timberwolves break an extended playoff drought, his intense style of coaching and overreliance on his starting lineup has blunted his momentum in the playoffs, in turn making him a bit of a risky hire.

Kidd has a 183-190 record compiled over one season as Brooklyn Nets head coach, after which he was sent away following a failed bid for increased power within the organization, and four seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. While Kidd did make the playoffs three times in five seasons and was critical to the development of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the fact that the Bucks became the best team in the league as soon as Mike Budenolzer replaced him his a large black mark on his coaching resume.

Kidd, a former Knick himself, wouldn’t be the worst hire in the world, but more classic Knicks ineptitude already has them scaring away qualified candidates.