Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd is in the running to become the next head coach of the Orlando Magic. According to Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports, the former Hall of Fame point guard will interview with the organization this week.
Kidd has been linked with numerous coaching positions since becoming an assistant coach under Frank Vogel in 2019. He was most recently publicly endorsed by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard to replace Terry Stotts in that organization before taking himself out of the running.
The Magic parted ways with Steve Clifford after another year without postseason basketball, presumably because the organization is heading towards another rebuild, having moved on from longtime core members Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline.
Kidd has previously been a head coach for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks with limited success. A rebuilding organization could be an opportunity for him to rebuild his image.
The Lakers reportedly made Kidd the highest paid assistant coach in the league to join Vogel’s staff. At the time, Kidd was also in the running to replace Like Walton on the sidelines for the purple and gold. According to some reports, he was not hired as the head coach due to his past off the court issues, including domestic violence and a DUI charge.
Of note: Vogel coached the Magic but was eventually let go and landed with the Lakers after a short break. Additionally, Magic general manager John Hammond led the Bucks front office when Kidd coached there.
