The Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with now former head coach Jason Kidd. While it isn't a huge shock, this could be a major opportunity for the Sacramento Kings. They appear to be sticking with Doug Christie, but Kidd is a better, more experienced coach who could change things in Sacramento.
Last season was a debacle for the Kings in a number of ways. They have massive roster issues to unravel, going back years. They had an endless barrage of injuries that could bleed into next season. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to bad, expensive contracts.
One concern that presented itself clearly last season was head coach Doug Christie. His defense-first approach makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, it morphed into a defense-only mentality. There have been ongoing questions about him being the right coach for an in-depth rebuild process.
At the same time, many players have responded well to him. Both Russell Westbrook and Precious Achiuwa seem happy with Christie's work, as do the vast majority of the Kings' rookies and sophomores. But with the end of Kidd's tenure with the Mavs, the Kings have to make a move.
Kidd's time with the Mavericaks was up
The list of accomplishments Kidd accrued as a player is almost endless, and includes an NBA Championship. He shifted to being a head coach in 2013 with the Nets. Kidd would eventually pick up another NBA ring, this time as an assistant coach with the the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
During his five-season tenure as the head coach of the Mavericks, he won the Western Conference Championship and took his team to the finals. Unfortunately, the dubious Luka Doncic trade perpetrated by then general manager Nico Harrison ground any momentum the team had to a halt.
Harrison was ultimately fired in the fallout of that trade, and Kidd is the latest casualty. The Mavs are looking for a full rebuild around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Kidd was a remnant of the Doncic era and its acrimonious end. Moving on meant moving on from him as a head coach.
The writing was on the wall as soon as Masai Ujiri joined the front office. He is the new Team President and Alternate Governor of the Mavericks. Kidd was the first major name to leave the franchise under Ujiri's tenure, but he's unlikely to be the last. Still, the Mavericks' loss could be the Kings' gain.
Kidd on the Kings would be a gamechanger
Sacramento is in the midst of an extremely delicate rebuild that has the potential to go off the rails at any given moment. Even at its best, the whole process is somehow intricate, time-consuming, and precarious, all at the same time. Having the wrong coach makes it even more difficult.
There are a lot of people who are unsure about Christie's ability to shepherd the Kings through this rebuild. Frankly, many people doubt his ability to be a head coach under the best of circumstances. That being said, it's hard to form an informed opinion given how unsettled last season was.
So far, the Kings organization seems to be standing behind Christie. That doesn't mean that they can't hedge their bets by bringing Kidd in as an assistant coach. Having someone with his high level of experience can only be a good thing for Sacramento through the rebuild.
If the 2026-2027 season doesn't start showing significant improvement for the Kings, Christie could easily be the next head coach on the unemployment line. Kidd would be the next man up, as well as the coach to find the next gear for a rebuilding franchise fighting for relevancy.
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