Jason Kidd's future could be in doubt after Mavericks hire Masai Ujiri

Jason Kidd wanted to be the team president of the Dallas Mavericks. Now the Mavs have hired Masai Ujiri, and the new president has stopped short of endorsing Kidd as his long-term head coach.

Ujiri's hire followed an extensive search by owner Patrick Dumont and two of his executives following the firing of general manager Nico Harrison. Now, Ujiri is the unquestioned boss in Dallas and the only one with true job security besides Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.

Jason Kidd tried to take advantage of the Dallas Mavericks' power vacuum

Trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis during the 2024-25 season threw the Mavericks organization into chaos, with fans routinely chanting for Harrison's firing. That dismissal finally came last fall, at which point Kidd reportedly angled to become Harrison's successor.

Kidd's bid failed months ago. He wasn't a part of the hiring process that brought in Ujiri, though Kidd's relationship with Flagg helps his standing with Dumont. It would also be expensive for the Mavericks to move on from Kidd, who has received contract extensions in each of the last two seasons and now has four years left on his deal.

But while Dumont seems committed to Kidd, he seems even more committed to having someone else become the public face of the Mavericks. Dumont doesn't enjoy public speaking and has other responsibilities with his family's casino business. Ujiri is one of the most successful executives the Mavericks could have hired, but that track record means he gets to be the decision-maker — and one of those decisions is about the continuing employment of a man who wanted his job.

Jason Kidd is likely safe — for now

When Ujiri took over the Toronto Raptors in 2013, he inherited a head coach in Dwane Casey and kept him for five seasons before replacing Casey with Nick Nurse. Of course, Casey didn't try to become general manager of the Raptors before that.

That's why Kidd's job is likely safe, at least for a while. Ujiri has other, more pressing concerns with his new team, from building a team around Flagg to the team's lack of first-round picks going forward to the future of Kyrie Irving and other veterans. It's not clear whether the Mavericks are rebuilding or trying to compete next season.

Still, it's telling that Ujiri only said he'd meet with Kidd and promised to inspect the Mavericks "from head to toe."