This season, the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, but they were eliminated by the Pacers and missed the finals. Days after the loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks fired head coach Thibodeau.

According to joint reports from ESPN reporters Sharania and Tim MacMahon, multiple sources revealed that the Knicks are conducting due diligence on candidates such as Mavericks coach Kidd.

Several sources said that the Knicks has not yet applied for an interview with Kidd, who renewed his contract with the team early after reaching the finals in 2024, with his contract still two years left.

Several sources revealed that Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and boss Patrick Dumont have not discussed whether the team will allow Kidd to negotiate with the Knicks.

Theoretically, the two teams can reach a deal (the Clippers used a first-round pick to exchange for coach Old Rivers that year), allowing Kidd to be hired by the Knicks, but the Knicks' draft assets are not very abundant. They gave away five first-round picks when they exchanged for Mikal Bridges last year.

It is worth mentioning that before Thibodeau coached the Knicks in 2020, Kidd interviewed the Knicks' coach.