After blowing a 2-0 and 3-2 lead in the first-round matchup against the L.A. Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks overhauled its front office and coaching staff positions.
Dallas parted ways with Donnie Nelson, who was the general manager for 24 seasons, shortly after the playoff exit. Then, Rick Carlisle parted ways with the team after being the head coach for 13 seasons.
The Mavericks are currently in a sticky situation with how it proceeds, especially considering Luka Doncic’s looming extension deal to complete.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said he wants to conduct a thorough search for a new general manager before hiring a new head coach.
However, Carlisle, who inked a four-year deal Thursday to coach the Indiana Pacers, has spoken about who he wants as his replacement, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Rick Carlisle on his Mavs: "It's hard to put an exact finger on it. It’s just a feeling that I had that it would be mutually beneficial. My hope is that Jason Kidd will be the next coach of the Mavs because he and Luka have so many things in common as players."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 24, 2021
This isn’t the first time Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd has been mentioned for the Mavericks’ opening. Last week, Dallas briefly discussed Kidd as the replacement, but Cuban is adamant about finding a general manager first.
Kidd’s ties with Dallas dates back to 1994 when the Mavericks selected Kidd with the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft. Kidd had a second stint with the franchise from 2007 to 2012, where his connection with Carlisle began.
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