Hiring Jason Kidd as President of Basketball Operations would be the first in a long line of likely personnel changes
By MARQUES EVERSOLL
If reports are true, and the Milwaukee Bucks end up handing Jason Kidd the keys to the franchise, then what was expected to be an offseason of change may become an all-out overhaul.
Kidd, after just one year as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, had a falling out with Nets management and asked the team for control of basketball operations. The team declined, and the Bucks subsequently asked to talk with Kidd. The Nets obliged, and the Bucks seem to be past the talking stage with Kidd.
Gery Woefel of the Racine Journal Times reported via Twitter that the Bucks have offered Kidd the job as “president.” Kidd’s official responsibilities are unknown, but the job would, at the very least, give Kidd a lot of control of the team, and it’s unusual that, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports, head coach Larry Drew and general manager John Hammond reportedly were unaware that Kidd was being interviewed at all.
He’d certainly have more power than he’s qualified for, on paper.
But if and when the compensation is finalized to send Kidd to Milwaukee, it will undoubtedly be the first domino to fall in terms of trades and signings. It’s no secret the Bucks have made several veterans available via trade. Windhorst reported on SportsCenter early Sunday morning that the Bucks are actively shopping Mayo.
Ownership reportedly signed off on parting with Knight, Ilyasova, Sanders and John Henson prior to the draft. Hiring Kidd would certainly put any personnel negotiations on hold, but it certainly slow down the team’s offseason overhaul.
To start, perhaps Kidd could look at the team he just coached for one year and give the Bucks a quick reshuffle.
A few years ago, Kidd’s point guard in 2014, Deron Williams, was mentioned in the same breath as Chris Paul and 2010 MVP Derrick Rose. That’s no longer the case, although a change of scenery to Milwaukee, specifically, would give Williams, 30, what Kidd craves—a lot of control.
Kidd, himself, had a successful post-30 NBA career with the Nets and Mavericks.
To make the money work in WIlliams trade, it would likely include Ersan Ilyasova and either Larry Sanders or O.J. Mayo in addition to Brandon Knight, who would likely need to be sent to Brooklyn if the Nets were to consider moving Williams. The Nets have been open to trading Williams, but his contract (roughly $60 million over the next three years) could certainly turn away some potential buyers, if it hasn’t already. With a young nucleus, the Bucks could afford to keep Williams in their pay roll for the next few years.
For taking on Williams’ contract, the Bucks may be able to add a Mason Plumlee-type player as well. Plumlee has proved capable of playing in a rotation somewhere.
Possible starters: PG Deron Williams, SG (Free agent), SF Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF Jabari Parker and C Larry Sanders or John Henson.
Assuming Mayo gets traded, it’s tough to pinpoint the Bucks’ starting shooting guard on the current roster. They’d likely rely on a free-agent signing, if they can’t get Mayo’s replacement in the trade.
How likely is a Williams-to-Milwaukee deal? I have no idea. Maybe the Nets wouldn’t even do business with Kidd. But the potential Knight-Ilyasova-Mayo deal for Williams and Plumlee makes sense for both sides.
And who knows, if a guy with one year’s coaching experience can get complete control of an NBA franchise, maybe a radio guy lying out the framework for a big trade can land me a job on his coaching staff.
You can hear Marques on SportsLine, Monday through Friday 4:00-6:00pm on WDUZ 107.5 FM and 1400 AM “The Fan” and on the Saturday Morning Showcase at 8 am on Saturdays. You can follow him on Twitter @MJEversoll and/or email him at [email protected].
