New president Masai Ujiri prioritizes a fresh start over franchise sentimentality, eating a massive contract to clear the path for a new era centered around Cooper Flagg.
DALLAS - How badly did new management want to "part ways'' with Dallas Mavs coach Jason Kidd?
Four years and $40 million worth, that's how badly.
After firing GM Nico Harrison earlier this season, the Mavericks opted to wait until the end of the year to hire his replacement as the front-office boss.
And last week, the Mavericks made one of the biggest splashes possible, landing Masai Ujiri to serve both as president of basketball operations and team governor.
Then Ujiri hired Mike Schmitz to be his GM.
And now one more shoe has dropped - and Kidd has been dropped.
Upon his hiring, Ujiri was asked about Kidd's job security.
“He’s done a great job, but we are going to look at this thing from head to toe,” Ujiri said. “That’s the right way to look at an organization and evaluate in every single way we can.”
And the "evaluation'' led to Kidd's firing - or, if you prefer (via the club's announcement) - a "mutual parting.''
Ujiri is widely regarded as one of the best front-office figures in the modern NBA, having led the Raptors from 2013 to 2025. He designed their title roster in 2019 and made sure that they were always in postseason contention.
More than that, in Dallas, he deserves the right to pick his guys ... to design his management team in conjuction with designing his roster around rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.
We knew a while ago that Kidd's spot here wasn't cemented in, and moreover, we suspected that a power struggle of sorts might ensue given the fact that Kidd himself wanted the Mavs' president job,
But all that's over now.
Kidd has been the Mavericks' head coach since 2021, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2024 on the back of stellar play by Luka Doncic.
Before that, he coached the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks and was one of the best point guards of all time during his playing career. He spent two stints on the Mavericks' roster, making two All-Star Games and winning his lone championship as Dirk Nowitzki's unselfish in 2011.
Kidd is one of the most central figures in Mavericks' history. And he had four years left on his deal. (ESPN adds that totaled $40 mil.) but their new leader didn't bother with sentimentality (or budget) here.
“I’m going to hear coach Jason Kidd out, his thoughts on everything,” Ujiri said last week. “If you go back to the history, it’s the same thing. I have to follow the process here. I’m excited to meet with him.”
The process was followed. The meeting was held. Kidd was "heard out'' ... and now he's just "out.''
