Latest buzz on Knicks' head coach search: Mavericks expect Jason Kidd to stay in Dallas

Here's the latest news and buzz on the Knicks' search for a new head coach...

June. 10, 8:40 p.m.

With the Knicks looking to fill their head coaching vacancy, and Jason Kidd an option the team is interested in, it seems the Dallas Mavericks don't believe their long-time coach is looking to leave.

According to a report in The Athletic, team and league sources told the outlet that the Mavs "continue to privately insist to key stakeholders that Kidd won't be going anywhere." A team source told The Athletic that the Knicks had yet to request permission to speak with Kidd as of Tuesday afternoon.

The NY Post's Stefan Bondy reported Tuesday that if a league source said if the Knicks do ask permission, "the expectation is the Mavs will decline."

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported last week that Kidd, the Rockets' Ime Udoka and the Timberwolves' Chris Finch are coaches currently under contract that the Knicks have degrees of interest in.

June 7, 2:58 p.m.

Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks job, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.

Knicks team president Leon Rose and Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly, but because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, Begley notes.

Of course, many speculated Wright could be a candidate because he coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges in college. Wright retired in 2022 after 21 seasons at Villanova and is now a college basketball analyst on CBS and TNT.

June 6, 1:18 p.m.

Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd are among the coaches currently under contract who the Knicks have degrees of interest in, reports SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.

Per Begley, the Knicks will request permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd.

Marc Stein was first to report the expectation that the Knicks would ask to speak with Kidd.

Kidd, 52, has been the Mavericks' head coach since 2021.

Udoka is the head coach of the Rockets, while Finch is the head coach of the Timberwolves.

Kidd wrapped up his Hall-of-Fame playing career with a stint with the Knicks, so there is some familiarity between the two parties.

If the Knicks wind up hiring Udoka, Finch, or Kidd, they will be required to send compensation to their former team.

June 4, 2:41 p.m.

The Rockets have "no interest in entertaining" a scenario where they allow head coach Ime Udoka to leave for the Knicks job, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Per The Athletic, Udoka and the Rockets are "committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason."

Udoka, 47, has been the Rockets' head coach since the 2023-24 season.

He served as the Celtics' head coach from 2021 to 2023, and has worked as an assistant for the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets.

June 2, 12:40 p.m.

The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be their next head coach, which means potential Knicks candidate Johnnie Bryant is still available.

Bryant was reported to be one of the finalists for the job in Phoenix.

June 2, 3:02 a.m.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that it would be surprising if the Knicks found their next head coach by the end of this week.

Additionally, Begley noted that people recently in touch with the team have downplayed the idea of Mike Malone being a slam-dunk hire.

Begley also noted that the early read is that Dan Hurley isn’t at the top of New York’s initial list, adding that Ime Udoka was a name he had heard mentioned. To hire Udoka, the Knicks would have to get permission from Houston and give the Rockets compensation to let Udoka out of his deal.

As far as Jason Kidd, Begley reported that he can’t see the Mavericks even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go.