Jason Kidd is the new coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets agreed on a deal on Monday to send Kidd to Milwaukee.
As previously reported the Nets will get a second-round draft pick in 2015 and 2019 from the Bucks. Kidd was hired to be the Nets coach last June after he retired as a player. In his only season as the Nets coach he went 44-38, according to the Associated Press.. Kidd then sought to get control of basketball operations but was denied.
Lionel Hollins is a serious candidate and Ettore Messina, the former coach of CSKA Moscow, are the leading candidates for the nets job, according to ESPN, which first reported the news.
"In a lot of ways, he makes the most sense," a league source told ESPN of Hollins. "He represents stability, and stability is very important right now. He rules with an iron fist and gets a lot out of his players, so he'd be very high on the list right now, and likely the leader."
Kidd going to the Bucks is a good move. As USA Today notes, Kidd was unhappy with his salary. He had signed a four-year deal that was worth $10.5 million. However Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher are making more than Kidd in their coaching deals. The Bucks have just drafted Jabari Parker and Kidd should be able to help Parker learn quickly. Kidd can also rebuild the team and make them successful.
The Bucks were 15-67 last season, which was the worst record in the NBA. Kidd will be able to turn them around.