Deron Williams and Jason Kidd (above) (UPI)
KIDD ON BLOCK: Just one season removed from playing against the likes of Deron Williams (inset), Jason Kidd has leaped to the front of the list of Nets coaching candidates after meeting about the job yesterday. (Anthony J. Causi)
The serious interest goes both ways.
Jason Kidd badly wants the Nets’ head-coaching job, and multiple sources insist the attraction is mutual and the team’s search for a replacement to P.J. Carlesimo is strongly pointing toward the future Hall of Famer. Kidd is viewed as the leading candidate for the job and met with GM Billy King yesterday to pitch his position.
It was a “good meeting,” according to someone close to the situation.
“Jason really believes he is ready for the next step, to be a head coach,” another person familiar with Kidd’s thinking said. “He wants it.”
And all indications are the Nets want him.
The Nets are expected to finalize a decision this week. If it is Kidd, team brass want to provide him an experienced staff, and former Nets head coach Lawrence Frank, axed by the Pistons, is the obvious choice for lead assistant.
Kidd would be a gamble. Though he has an off-the-charts basketball IQ, he has no coaching experience. That, plus some of Kidd’s off-the-court problems — such as a DWI rap last July, less than a week after signing with the Knicks — are possible red flags.
The Nets still are expected to meet Wednesday with Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, another strong candidate, to discuss the opportunity. Either Kidd or Shaw would represent the “fresh face” the Nets seek. The marketing guys would be like kids on a sugar rush with Kidd. (Lionel Hollins, who won’t be retained as Grizzlies coach, does not have the same appeal.)
Those who support Kidd point to Mark Jackson, who did a magnificent job at Golden State without any prior coaching experience. In his second year as head coach, Jackson directed the Warriors to their second playoff appearance in 19 seasons and advanced to the second round. The Nets, after making more than $300 million in salary commitments, were bounced in the first round.
“It takes somebody who could care less what the critics say to pull the trigger on a guy who’s never been an assistant coach,” Jackson said earlier this season. “It’s easier to go with a guy that has coached and even failed or has been an assistant because even if it doesn’t look good, you don’t look bad. So I’m extremely thankful I had an owner and a front office that was willing to take a chance on me.”
Jackson feels his success eventually will help other former players — such as Kidd — overcome the roadblock of having no assistant-coaching experience.
“I knew how important it would be not just for me but for former players that would one day have an opportunity to be a coach,” Jackson said. “I knew it could hurt or help them.”
The Nets must decide whether they are willing to take a similar chance, but the risk would be lessened considerably by having experienced help for Kidd.
It also would be interesting to see how Kidd would handle dealing with players of lesser ability and those who do not measure up to his legendary work ethic. Kidd already has a great relationship and is good friends with Nets star point guard Deron Williams.
Another former player who made the move to coach — and who requested anonymity — endorsed Kidd but outlined some of the pitfalls.
“How do you react when all the eyes are on you?” the coach said. “And there is so much work involved. You go through practice, need to be organized and then when the players leave, your job is just starting.
“He would have to surround himself with experienced people. Personally, I think Jason would be excellent.
“Just his presence, his name would command respect,” he continued. “What I saw of the Nets this year, whether under Avery Johnson or P.J. Carlesimo, and whether they were up 20 or down 20, they didn’t always play hard. I think that would not be the case under Jason Kidd.
“But believe it, no matter how ready he feels, it will be a shock to the system at first.”