Lakers News: Rick Carlisle Endorses Jason Kidd To Be Next Head Coach Of Mavericks

Matt Peralta
5 Min Read
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

With so many head coaching vacancies in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers assistant head coach Jason Kidd seems like he will finally get his shot to once again lead a team.

Kidd has spent the past two seasons on the Lakers sideline next to Frank Vogel and it appears he has rehabbed his image enough to where he is an attractive choice to teams. The former point guard has been linked to basically every opening from the Portland Trail Blazers to the New Orleans Pelicans to the Orlando Magic, but nothing of substance has materialized quite yet.

The Dallas Mavericks are another team to watch for as Kidd played and won a championship there under Rick Carlisle, who recently resigned and was hired to be the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

While it remains to be seen if Kidd will land the job, it appears Carlisle is in favor of it as he endorsed his former player to coach a core surrounded by Luka Doncic, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN:

This isn’t the first public endorsement Kidd has received this offseason as Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers did the same, although the Lakers assistant took his name out of the running for that job.

Perhaps the reason for that was Kidd had talked to Carlisle and knew the Mavericks job would be opening, which may be more desirable given his history with the organization and desire to work with Doncic.

It is more likely than not at this point that Kidd departs the Lakers, forcing head coach Frank Vogel to find a replacement. Still, L.A. has been supportive of players and coaches getting their opportunities so hopefully Kidd gets his.

Vogel part of Lakers future

Even though Vogel is entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers, vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said that the head coach is viewed as a part of the franchise’s future.

“Listen, Frank’s done an outstanding job as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers,” Pelinka said. “To come into an organization and his first year to help us achieve the ultimate goal is really incredible and something that we are so grateful and appreciative of.

“And this year I think did everything to battle through some of the things that our team face that we couldn’t control and did the best he could in times of adversity to keep everybody together. Frank is a guy that we, Kurt and I and the front office, really enjoy working with that does a great job with our players and we see him as a strong part of our future, for sure.”

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Matt was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif. and is a lifelong Lakers fan. Because of his love for basketball and the Lakers, Matt successfully pursued a degree in journalism at California State University, Long Beach (#GoBeach) and is now a Staff Writer for LakersNation.com. He is also a Staff Writer for RamsNewsWire.com and RaidersNewsWire.com. Contact: mattp@mediumlargela.com Twitter: @_MatthewPeralta Instagram: @matthewperalta
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