Jason Kidd to Coach the Nets

[granger05]

Per WT: LINK

He mentioned he wanted to coach, but I assumed there'd be a waiting period. In the old days there were some player coaches, but when is the last time a player retired and then transitioned into coaching the very next season (within a couple weeks of his retirement)?

I'm sure Kidd has basically been in this role his last few years on the court anyway, so I expect he'll be a decent coach, but I'm just shocked at the quick transition.

[Niko23]

Huge mistake IMO

[Bank Shot]

Pretty huge gamble for a team that's in win-now mode.

[Slava]

I'm interested to see how this works out. Kidd has great knowledge of the game but to manage an entire team is a different proposition altogether. I think he will succeed.

[PowerSteele]

Wow. A direct transition from player to head coach is tough. There's no time for reflection whatsoever. It will be interesting.

[southern wolf]

I think he'll be an ok coach, but it's a mistake when you've got the likes of Shaw and Karl still available. They should have hired whoever they like most out of Shaw/Karl/Hollins and make Kidd the lead assistant to serve an apprenticeship.

[HotRocks34]

AWESOME!

I love Kidd and think he will make a great coach. Hopefully he'll have some good assistants to help him make the transition. Kind of like Bird did in Indiana.

[shmito17]

Kidd and Deron are very close friends. This is interesting.

[Trader_Joe]

I think he'll be an ok coach, but it's a mistake when you've got the likes of Shaw and Karl still available. They should have hired whoever they like most out of Shaw/Karl/Hollins and make Kidd the lead assistant to serve an apprenticeship.

It is not up to them what coach will sign with them.

Shaw has wanted LAC from the beginning and will sign there most likely

Better roster
Better weather
Family there
Ties to the city

I think they knew Shaw was going to pick LAC and they are doing this as quickly as they can to make it look like Kidd was their guy and they didn't get dumped for the Clippers. Though I am hearing Kidd has had this in mind for some time.

But otherwise Shaw is the only coach I would want over Kidd.
Not Karl as his playoff record is awful
Not Hollins as he a hard a$$ and a control freak and offensively challenged as was Avery and PJC

[KGboss]

Maybe if he went to a team that wasnt a rival last year. Hes going to have to gain the respect of the players that fought against him last year in a leadership type role. Granted hes a respected player around the league especially in that organization, there will still be a barrier he will have to overcome to make that transition fully.

They really need to fix that team though. Regardless of him being the coach I dont see them doing as well as they did this year - or getting out of the first round unless they make some moves.

[Trader_Joe]

Maybe if he went to a team that wasnt a rival last year. Hes going to have to gain the respect of the players that fought against him last year in a leadership type role. Granted hes a respected player around the league, there will still be a barrier he will have to overcome to make that transition fully.

No he won't.
They all respect him as does the organization.

[HotRocks34]

They all respect him as does the organization.

Without a doubt Kidd has one of the highest BBall IQ's I've ever seen. If you can't learn from him, or don't respect him, you have issues.

Bird was great as a coach in Indy and the players respected him big-time. He really helped Jalen Rose's career, I know that.

I'm sure Kidd will have full respect from the players. I would love to play for him.

[ndnow]

That is a direct insult to coaching wow.

[southern wolf]

I think he'll be an ok coach, but it's a mistake when you've got the likes of Shaw and Karl still available. They should have hired whoever they like most out of Shaw/Karl/Hollins and make Kidd the lead assistant to serve an apprenticeship.

It is not up to them what coach will sign with them.

Shaw has wanted LAC from the beginning and will sign there most likely

Better roster
Better weather
Family there
Ties to the city

I think they knew Shaw was going to pick LAC and they are doing this as quickly as they can to make it look like Kidd was their guy and they didn't get dumped for the Clippers. Though I am hearing Kidd has had this in mind for some time.

But otherwise Shaw is the only coach I would want over Kidd.
Not Karl as his playoff record is awful
Not Hollins as he a hard a$$ and a control freak and offensively challenged as was Avery and PJC

It's a huge risk hiring a coach with no official coaching experience when you're in win now mode, though.

[Viatical]

It is surprising that the Nets are willing to gamble on Kidd's abilities as a player translating into coaching ability. This is especially true in light of all the names of proven, veteran coaches floated in the media, who all had either interest in the job, or garnered interest from the Nets.

[Dr Pepper]

Is this more of a risk than say...Mark Jackson?

I like the move and I think it'll pay off, but the Nets need some work

[NaturalBuns]

Well with that roster and in the East his first year he will make the playoffs. This team is not a fit for Karl. Shaw is LAC bound. Hollins would of been a nice pickup but we don't know what he wants etc

[Trader_Joe]

I think he'll be an ok coach, but it's a mistake when you've got the likes of Shaw and Karl still available. They should have hired whoever they like most out of Shaw/Karl/Hollins and make Kidd the lead assistant to serve an apprenticeship.

It is not up to them what coach will sign with them.

Shaw has wanted LAC from the beginning and will sign there most likely

Better roster
Better weather
Family there
Ties to the city

I think they knew Shaw was going to pick LAC and they are doing this as quickly as they can to make it look like Kidd was their guy and they didn't get dumped for the Clippers. Though I am hearing Kidd has had this in mind for some time.

But otherwise Shaw is the only coach I would want over Kidd.
Not Karl as his playoff record is awful
Not Hollins as he a hard a$$ and a control freak and offensively challenged as was Avery and PJC

It's a huge risk hiring a coach with no official coaching experience when you're in win now mode, though.

Two things on that...

1. Shaw might now have been win now either. He would have stressed player development (which George, Stephenson and others credit him for) and he would want to institute the triangle that takes a year or two to learn.

2. I think this is a sign that the Nets are lessening expectations as they know they are not a win now team for the title. And... at the same time, they know they have little room to improve the roster. They have Hump, #22, Mini MLE, and minimum deals. So....the single biggest addition they can make this summer is a new coach. They are taking a risk they basically have to take and it went down to the two "riskiest" candidates.... Shaw (who is still being interviewed today) and Kidd. And again as for Shaw (who I liked the best) you have to remember he's always preferred the Clippers and was never theirs.

All the "win now" coaches all had their flaws:
Hollins - offensively challenged, hard a$$, control freak.. like Avery and PJC
Karl - Poor playoff coach
Larry Brown - old as dirt, quits on his teams
B.Scott - been there, done that
etc.

Also, it looks like their might be a new trend in coaching where new blood is the way to go. Organizations are sick of the re-treads. Brooklyn has a chance to build a long standing relationship here.

[Viatical]

Is this more of a risk than say...Mark Jackson?

Yes, given that almost no time has passed between Kidd's retirement and the hiring. No years spent and added experience gained as an analyst, broadcaster, or sportswriter studying the game from afar--no nothing. And the jury is still out even on Jackson's own coaching performance.

It's important to note that there is often no relationship whatsoever between the quality of a player when he was playing, and the quality of the coach that player goes on to be. There have been some notable disasters even among Hall of Fame players, who just didn't have what it takes to coach. Magic and Isiah, just for starters. In fact, most of the league's best coaches were relative nobodys when they played professionally themselves, and still others never even played pro ball.

Kidd's ability as a great player directly translating like this would be the exception, and not even close to the rule.

[Jugs]

Wow good luck to him