As SNY's Ian Begley confirmed on Monday, Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd will be getting an interview for the Knicks' head coach position. He had reported that there was "strong internal consideration" to interview Kidd for the job.
Not only does Kidd have the head coaching experience, but there might be one specific reason -- a player to be exact -- the Knicks might be considering his employment.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be playing in the final year of his four-year, $100 million pact with the Bucks next season, making him the most intriguing free agent to hit the market in 2021. He has expressed his desire to stay in Milwaukee, but only if they prove to remain one of the top teams in the East, so he can compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy every year.
But other teams in the league that can offer the supermax to him could be of interest to the uber-dynamic point guard when he's allowed to test the market. That's where Kidd comes in.
As Newsday's Steve Popper first reported, Kidd could help a team land Antetokounmpo in free agency given his time coaching the Bucks during the All-Star's developmental years.
Kidd was head coach of the Bucks from 2014-18, and when he started, Antetokounmpo was just coming off his rookie year. By 2016, though, Antetokounmpo's development under Kidd led to 22.9 points per game and 52.1 percent shooting from the field. "The Greek Freak" has spoke very highly of Kidd during his time in Milwaukee.
So could Kidd, who also played his final NBA season in New York in 2012-13 and has a good relationship with owner James Dolan, be that bridge between Antetokounmpo and the Knicks? It's a long shot, of course, but it does factor into Kidd's case. Not only would landing Antetokounmpo immediately benefit the Knicks, but other free agents might be inclined in joining him at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks want to return to glory, and that means hiring a coach that can not only help develop key pieces like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson, but also one that can help generate wins quickly. Through his years head coaching, Kidd owns a 44-38 record, and has reached the playoffs three times -- once with the Brooklyn Nets in his first year as head coach in 2013-14, and twice with the Bucks during the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons.
There are many other candidates for new team president Leon Rose to interview, including Tom Thibodeau (the reported favorite), Mike Woodson, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Brown and others.