Masai Ujiri's CLEAN SLATE Had Nothing to Do with Luka Doncic Trade? | Jason Kidd Fired?

Added: 2026-05-21

[00:00:00]On today's show, Messiah Jerry came out and said he wants a clean slate for the Dallas Mavericks and that's why he fired Jason Kid. Let him go, parted ways, however you want to put it. Break it all down today. Locked on Mass.

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[00:00:33]>> And welcome. You're locked on the Dallas Mavericks. Your team every day. Today's episode I'm joined by Christian Clark of The Athletic. We're going to talk about uh Messiah Jerry gave his answer as to why Jason Kid is no longer part of the organization. However you want to position it, phrase it, say it. He's not here anymore. Not the coach. We'll talk about how the Luca trade had no involvement in this decision.

[00:00:53]Apparently, uh Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flag had some kind of involvement in this, but it's interesting the way the Messiah positioned it. And uh Jason Kid and Messiah talked about Jason Kid wanting to get his job basically, which is all f all fascinating inside this Game of Thrones style uh power grad that I get guess that happened. So, Christian Clark, the Athletic, welcome in. The first thing that stood out to me about Messiah Jur's press conference is that he said, "We wanted a clean slate.

[00:01:19]That's why we moved on from Jason Kidd."

[00:01:21]He waxed poetic about Jason Kidd a few times in this press conference. He wanted to make it very clear that the attributes that he would he he would want in a new head coach that Jason Kidd didn't necessarily not have those, but he wanted a a clean slate and wanted everybody in in the same, you know, mentality going forward. He said, I think a new slate was a good way to look at this because sometimes I feel this organization, we needed kind of clarity in where we're going rather than sometimes a lot of things in the mix. We really needed to work in one direction and how we build this team and how we create winning. And that's how I looked at it just going forward and building winning. He wants to build winning. And Jason K is not part of that anymore.

[00:01:56]>> Yeah. Clean slate. That was, you know, one of the the key phrases of of what Messiah said over that half hour or so.

[00:02:02]I think he's probably right. That was such an ugly chapter in the Maverick's history that that anybody who was involved in in the Luca thing, and you can you can argue about their level involvement, which I'm sure we've all done, but they probably did need to go, right? I mean, the two most powerful people in the Mavericks organization when they made that move, besides Patrick Dumont, was Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd, they're both gone now. Matt Ricardi, who was the assistant GM and then the co-interm GM, probably the third or fourth person. He's not with the team anymore. I mean, look, I think there was kind of a a group of of five people who really kicked around this decision of, hey, are we going to trade Luca? and Nico Harrison was obviously the one who who drove it and executed the trade and the majority of those people are not with the Mavericks anymore.

[00:02:53]>> Yeah, it's like Michael Finley, the guy that took the beer maybe the one the one guy that that stays that that gets to stick around and and it didn't even seem like Messiah was very committed about him and said, "Hey, we'll just talk about roles and see if Michael Finley is going to be part of this organization going forward." Yeah, the clean slate.

[00:03:07]there's there's actually no way to go around this besides just it was it it he said he was asked about if this had anything to do with the the Luca trade and he said honestly that that trade has played no part in how I've thought about this but how can you say clean slate without the Luca trade being part of it without the you know the past like the past sins I guess of of this franchise and of leadership I don't know how you can parse like all right this it's not about the Luca trade at all but we need a clean slate from what from what happened before it's like I don't I don't know I guess >> I mean I feel like on one hand Messiah's looking at it as all right this wound is is finally starting to close and I don't want to pick it back open and do this whole thing again but obviously at the same time it's like I mean without the Luca trade you know if they don't make the Luca trade Nico doesn't get fired and if Nico gets doesn't get fired then you don't have a new president if you don't have a new president then you know you're probably not making a change at head coach so I mean of course of course this doesn't happen you know if if if the Luca trade is not made but I get why Messiah you know his messaging was what it was.

[00:04:07]>> Oh yeah. Yeah. He I mean the full quote is, you know, this trade played no part in how I thought about it. Anything these decisions were made before I'm in no position to criticize or blame or even really investigate some of the things that happened then I said it and made it very clear something that you have to find healing and move on. That's my job to you know I have to be that transition to try and make a move. And that's and that like you said that's the messaging that the messaging of we've got to move we've got to move forward.

[00:04:29]We got to find healing in this. We've got to he even mentioned like the media like like you said the people in the room like we've got to figure out a way collectively to move on from this thing but the butterfly effect or the whatever you want to what do you want to call it of that will just continue on. I mean it like the leadership has completely changed from three years ago from ownership to business side front office you know to to front office to coaching.

[00:04:50]I mean it's going to absolutely a complete turnover and uh clean slates a really it is a good way to put it because that is what the Mavericks have have completely done here.

[00:04:59]>> Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I felt like three years ago the people with the juice were were you know you know Mark Cuban but he obviously got edged out as as Patrick Don bought the team and majority stake but it was really Nico and JK they were the ones with the juice and now when I look at the organization the people with the juice to me Messiah Jerry Ethan Cassen the president on the business side Rick Welz the CEO on the business side and you could say Mike Schmidtz too who who Messiah brought in to you know run a lot of the day-to-day be the Mavs GM like those are the people with the power who are going to drive a lot of the decisions now.

[00:05:32]>> And I I think that that it's for the better, right? You bring in Messiah who's got a track record, who's who has known how to do this. You bring Mike Schmidz that has a clear, you know, skill in in finding talent and you know what they're going to bring. We don't know who the coach is going to be, but man, it does seem like, all right, we finally pieced we finally he they finally pick picked up the pieces, put it all together, and it's actually going in one direction now, which is kind of his his whole point.

[00:05:55]>> Yeah. And and like one word that Messiah has used I think in both these press conferences since he's been hired as president is alignment.

[00:06:03]You know I I think one of the the interesting things that he said today was basically every decision we make here is going to be future based. We have a 19-year-old generational player on our roster. We have to think that way. We are not going to make decisions based on winning today. I think one of the the factors in the decision to to make a change at head coach, Jason Kidd is about as win now as it gets. Like I think I think Jason Kidd doesn't know any other way to be. Like Jason Kid was talking, you know, before that that regular season finale against the Bulls about, hey, Cooper Flag better rest this summer because we're going to be playing a lot longer next year. I just think that's the way he's wired. Jason Kidd is like, we're going to win all the time. I don't care if we trade everything seven years from now because this is what we're going to do. And I think Messiah looks at this as like that's not what it's going to be. You know, we already owe some of our future stuff because of stuff you guys wanted to do around Luca and we're going to take our time here.

[00:07:00]Our our new franchise guy is 19 years old. Like we're on his timeline and you know, we're just not going to mash the gas immediately.

[00:07:08]>> Yeah. You asked him about, you know, did the you pick situation, like the draft pick situation, not having control of your draft picks for the next four years or so. Did that play a factor in inc or will it play a factor in deciding anything? What did you think about what he said to that? Yeah, I I thought that was one of the most telling things he he said all day. And and you know, like I just said, I just I I don't know that there was alignment between Jason Kid and you know, Messiah Jerry just in terms of, you know, um when when ideally they'd both like to be contenders and when they think they could, you know, I'm sure Jason Kidd is looking at it like, you know, look, we can we can make the Western Conference Finals next year and I don't know that Messiah Jiri is is thinking about it like that. Um, but it it is interesting because like they kind of have on one hand they have no choice but to try and be as competitive as possible next year because that pick is going to the Charlotte Hornets from the PJ Washington trade unless it falls in the top two.

[00:08:05]>> You know, I I you kind of can't slow play it, but also your best player is is 19. So >> they could flat with the flat odds thing, right? They could get to like I don't know ninth again in in the lottery standings and have the same percentage as the fourth or whatever, right?

[00:08:20]that could that whole that whole thing could change this whole calculus which I find kind of interesting.

[00:08:24]>> Yeah, I guess if they're in that kind of in that that mid lottery like they're getting three ping pong balls. Um, >> you bet on I don't know if you bet on a like a 16% chance of something happening, but >> yeah, that would that would be wild if we're sitting here a year from now and you know the Mavericks are like they finish, you know, 11th going into the draft lottery and they only keep their pick if they finish in the top two.

[00:08:46]We're just sitting here like, please, please hit on this. Please hit on this.

[00:08:50]>> And then it's a draft that's not as strong as like this one or the last one or that's what that's what I heard from a lot of people at the combine, but it's not. So they find they get they get a top pick and it's not in a draft. It's good. Oh well. Coming up the the interesting relationship between Messiah and Jason Kidd. Like Messiah talked about it a bunch, but Jason Kidd said specifically to him that he wants to be the president. How did that play a factor? We'll talk about all that more coming.

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[00:10:59]>> SHUT IT DOWN.

[00:11:00]>> LET'S GO HOME.

[00:11:04]>> Thanks for hanging out with us Unlocked on Mabs, being part of the show. Part of the raccoon squad. That's what we call our listeners. Listening every single day. Do you guys call the athletic fans something?

[00:11:13]Uh, Christian Clark heads.

[00:11:17]>> Clark head. Uh, so you can go be one of those on the athletic and you can sub subscribe to that and read Christian Clark.

[00:11:24]>> Doesn't sound like you are one, Nick.

[00:11:25]>> I I'm a Clark head. I'll I'll be >> uh a Clark head. Uh, so go check the links in the description for different ways to subscribe to the show, The Everyday Club, the Text Line, and we'll be sending you stuff all all the time unless the text line goes down, which it did. Text Line was literally down when Jason Kid got fired. Not great. All right, Christian. We're talking about Messiah Jir's press conference with Jason Kid being no longer the head coach and he was asked about their like their relationship and if if you know the that Jason kid basically wanting his job played a factor in any of this which was something we talked about for I don't know years basically that Jason kid wants a position in the front office in some way that you saw maybe an opening with Nico Harrison getting fired and there was speculation about him going somewhere else and being in the front office and then he wanted then it was pretty clear that he wanted this job.

[00:12:13]Didn't get it. Messiah Jir gets it and then Mike Schmidz gets the GM job. So now there's no real like leadership positions there available and Messiah said this. He said it was no factor. I heard those things. I discussed with Jason and he was incredibly honest, you know, about those things for me. I'll leave those conversations that me and Jason had but there's you know there's he said I'd be com he basically said like I'd be comfortable with Jason Kid still having the job but we decided not to have it. Just in that though he said that they did discuss it that Jason kid basically told him hey I wanted I wanted you know your job basically and didn't get it and I find that whole power dynamic to be very interesting and this is why I think Jason Kidd is no longer there is because I don't think he would have dealt with the power power dynamic with Messiah Jir very well and I think the writing was kind of on the wall that Jason G wanted the job and didn't get it. I I think it's absolutely a factor.

[00:13:02]As soon as Messiah Jerry, you know, the Mavericks announced that they were making him their president on on May 5th, a little more than two weeks ago.

[00:13:09]You know, the text and the calls I got were I don't know how Messiah Jerry and Jason Kidd are going to coexist. It just it doesn't seem like that marriage is going to work out long term. You know, I wrote that the day uh Msiah was introduced in Dallas. I asked Majuri at his first press conference. you know, are you 100% committed to Jason Kidd and he was non-committal and right >> two weeks later, you know, Mavericks announced mutually parting ways. Okay, they can phrase it however they want to.

[00:13:35]Um, you know, it's over.

[00:13:38]>> Look, I I think it's it's absolutely true Jason Kidd wanted a front office role with the Mavericks. You know, I I reported in February that Maverick's ownership, you know, they were not that was just not going to happen. the the way it was put to me was, hey, look, we like Jason Kidd as a coach. Like, he brings us a lot of value here, but we don't really we don't view him as as the president of the Mavericks. And, you know, look, a lot of people will tell you that Jason had more to do with the Luca thing than than he was letting on.

[00:14:09]Like, it's kind of a crazy sequence of events of I influenced this Luca trade and and then, you know, I wanted to move into the front office. So, I can I can understand why, you know, Mavericks ownership didn't want to go down that road.

[00:14:22]>> Yeah, I mean it it makes sense and it it has been like a kind of a pattern with Jason Kid that he does want some kind of front office role. We've saw some things with the Bucks with the Nets and then it it was just how Jason Kidd has has, you know, treated people throughout his throughout his time in the NBA. And I think that that's something too that that played a factor into this and Messiah was like, "All right, we need a clean slate. We're moving on. We're moving forward. We want everybody to be all in one one accord and you can't have somebody that wants, you know, you know, wants your job or the role or like is trying to get out of their own spot like just I I think that all that stuff played a factor and it's one of the it seems like the most obvious thing now that Jason Kidd is not there anymore that we should have just known from the beginning like you said when Messiah got hired >> and and I'll say this like I mean I was I was you know raising that question and writing that stuff as soon as Messiah got hired here. I mean, Jason was was definitely not part of that process, you know, and involved with like here are the guys we're looking at and we're going to go with Messiah. He was not in that at all. But to me, I thought it was more likely that Jason was back this coming season than not simply because there was four years and $40 million on his contract. I think that's also a huge part of this. There are not many owners in the NBA who are willing to to eat that money. And I'm sure that was part of the discussions that Messiah Jerry had with Patrick Dumont in the weeks and months leading up to when he took this job. Hey, look, am I going to have full autonomy to do what I want here on the coaching side immediately? You know, how committed are you guys to Jason? I think it's pretty clear that Messiah, you know, had like had that assurance from from Patrick. You're going to be able to do whatever you want, you know, here and and Messiah took that twoe valuation period and said, let's make a change.

[00:16:00]And Patrick Deont is eating four years and $40 million. I mean, the GDP of a small country.

[00:16:08]>> Yeah, but it's a small price as soon as that casino gets gets put in downtown Dallas, right? Like that's it's they're going to make that in like two days, right?

[00:16:15]>> Uh, it's going to be it's going to be over by you and Irving, isn't it?

[00:16:21]>> I hope so. That'd be awesome. That'd be awesome. They put the they put the arena over here.

[00:16:26]>> There going to be like a lockown studios inside.

[00:16:28]>> I'm down. You know what? I'm down. Let's do it. We've already We've already got what? We've got Koshi, FanDuel. As long as those are the sponsors, we're okay to we're okay to do that.

[00:16:38]Yeah, I the Messiah Jerry moves on moves on from Jason Kid. The money that Dumont had to eat, like you said, is this thing that I keep coming back to. We've seen him shell out to bring Wick Rick Weltz out of retirement. Messiah, they must have paid him. I think they must have paid him a bunch to be able to come out of what he was doing. He didn't have to take this job basically. And then now to eat the contract of Jason Kid like they that is that is an investment they've made in this franchise for an ownership group that a lot of people speculated like we joked was only about this arena and casino and all that kind of stuff.

[00:17:10]They've now invested a lot into this basketball like the actual basketball club.

[00:17:14]>> I I believe that Miriam Maldison is the second richest owner in the NBA. You know if you just look at like the Bloomberg index or estimated net worth is $42 billion.

[00:17:23]>> Balmer I don't know what he is. He's in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

[00:17:26]But, you know, the Mavericks have one of the richest owners in the NBA. And yeah, I mean, the the coffers are open, you know, especially to clean up this mistake that was the Luca trade. Um, and yeah, Rick didn't come cheaply. You know, Ethan Kassen, I'm sure, you know, did pretty well. Uh, Jason Kidd was doing very well on his previous deal and then the contract extension. And I mean, it's good, you know. I mean, I'm not complaining about like I I covered the Pelicans who like looked at every single expense, you know, and like we're going to charge you for parking, you know, um >> as a reporter.

[00:18:02]>> No, not really.

[00:18:04]>> I mean, look, they would like I I've covered a team that's like we're just going to look at every single expense and pay all our people terribly. It is nice that that the Mavericks, you know, have a rich owner who who's willing to spend and try to make this thing right.

[00:18:19]It's not like the Blazers where they're getting rid of mascots because of redundancy, right?

[00:18:25]>> Elchipo. I mean, I think Elchipo is a Dallas guy, too. I don't I don't love that that, you know, he's out there giving us this reputation.

[00:18:32]>> Well, maybe he's sabotaging another franchise. He's going to go sabotage the Blazers and then they'll work their way around and so that the Mavericks are are in control, right?

[00:18:39]>> And an interesting layer is that uh he knows Jason Kid very well, you know, like they've they've they've ran in some of the same circles. you know, you have a lot of people in the NBA are like, "Hm, Tom Dunan and Jason Kid know each other well. Could that be a landing spot for him?" You know, there was like some Jason Kid moving to the front office there. They have a coaching vacancy.

[00:18:58]I think Jason Kid likes to be paid, too.

[00:19:00]So, that might be a problem, but I don't know. I'm I'm keeping my eye on it.

[00:19:04]>> He's got to pay him something, right?

[00:19:06]Like, and he's making 40 million over the next four years or so. So, you know.

[00:19:11]>> Yeah. the the Mavs the Mavs maybe funding the the Blazers making their next decision coming up. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flag were told about this had some kind of involvement in it, but uh an interesting way that this came about.

[00:19:24]Let's talk about that and more coming up.

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[00:19:52]I also need to go anytime a call goes against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Go to the Thunder subreddit. You got to see what they're complaining about. Go check it out for anytime a team gets kicked out of the playoffs or advances in the playoffs. It's incredible to have a real time reaction from all these fans from all over the place. It's like the ultimate second screen. you're checking reactions, catching up on news, or just seeing how everyone feels about the things in the moment. And there's certain stories that are only going to be on the NBA subreddit because they're just niche and specific enough that only certain people care about it, and that's probably you. Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team or the Dallas Mavericks for hot takes, fresh memes, and group chat that literally never sleeps. Download the Reddit app today.

[00:20:29]>> SHUT IT DOWN. LET'S GO HOME.

[00:20:34]>> All right. here with Christian Clark of the Athletic, the Clarkheads joining us today. Appreciate each and every one of you checking out the show and they he Messiah Jerry was asked about Kyrie Irving and Cooper flag and asked about their involvement in some kind of way.

[00:20:49]Uh were they consulted about this move?

[00:20:51]Were they told about this move? He said, you know, I did talk to them about this decision to be honest, but to be honest, it's not on them. I think these guys have an incredible relationship with Jason K. They've communicated well with him, but I think it's very fair to say this decision is on me. I don't want to put that on any player in any way and and anybody else. I kind of loved how he put that because a lot of times it's like, yeah, Kyrie Irving was consulted on the Jason Kid firing. So then he becomes known as like the coach killer because he got Jason Kid fired which so that's and that's not the case here.

[00:21:17]What did you make of of Flag and Kyrie being, you know, notified basically but not consulted?

[00:21:22]>> Yeah, I like that Messiah had those conversations with the Mavericks two best players. I think it's I think it's healthy for those guys to be, you know, at least consulted in the process. I don't know what they said, but as from what I can tell, from what I've heard, I think both those guys like Jason Kid a lot. You know, I I know Kyrie Irving did. I mean, favorite player growing up.

[00:21:42]>> Yeah. He's talked openly of like when I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, like Jason Kid was him, you know, really really looked up to him. I think Cooper Flag liked Jason a lot. I think there were people in Cooper Flag's camp who who thought, you know, Jason did it did a nice job. Um, so I I think I think Jason genuinely had a good relationship with both of those guys and yeah, I think Messiah had to say, "Yeah, this was this was my decision." He took accountability for it. Um, I think a huge part of him getting this job was his his comfortableness and willingness to get in front of the camera after decisions are made and just say, "Yes, I did this. You know, here's why I did this." And explain it. That was obviously a huge shortcoming for Nico. I mean, I know that was something the Mavericks, you know, wanted in Nico's successor. they got that MSI. Um, but yeah, I I like that they're involved in the process and I think both those guys rocked with Jason, honestly.

[00:22:35]>> Yeah, that that part of that part of it is interesting. But the you you mentioned that they wanted somebody that will go out there and speak. That's one of the few things we had we had really learned throughout the whole process of them trying to decide who was going to run this team going forward is that they wanted somebody who was going to be a voice that was going to come out and actually like face the music, which is a huge thing they dealt with after the Luca trade obviously. Uh, and they did it 10:00 a.m. the next day. Literally like right and early the next morning, Messiah came out and uh, and spoke and g gave his comments. What was your feeling in the room basically from from the time that it started to Messiah making his comments and after >> Yeah, it it wasn't tense. It was pretty comfortable. You know, Messiah was was making jokes. You know, Mike Curtis, our friend from the Dallas Morning News, his uh, he got a call and his iPad was going off and Messiah, you know, made a joke about it. Um, he seemed he seemed very at ease. You know, he was like it was like he was just having his morning coffee and like explaining why he did something. And >> here's why I sent this guy packing.

[00:23:30]>> Yeah. I mean, that was the vibe, honestly. And it's it's such a contrast with Nico. Like, it was just always so tense in there. And the Luca trade is a oneofone thing. There will never be anything like that again. But it was it was so tense. I mean, it is such a a different, you know, environment. Um, I want to ask you this because, you know, both times that Messiah has talked and addressed Dallas local media now, he's he's said like, "I really want to see Kyrie next to Cooper flag." I think the wording he used today was there's a huge curiosity. That was those two words he used. Huge curiosity to see Kyrie play next to Cooper.

[00:24:06]>> Are you behind it? Do Do you think Kyrie is starting the season on the Mavs next year?

[00:24:10]>> Yeah. Well, this part that he said, he said, "I think we owe that or we owe that to the organization to to see those guys to see those guys play out, which is also what Nico said about like Kyrie and AD playing it out and then Nico didn't didn't last and then obviously now AD is gone." But, uh, I mean, I I think I I think I'll believe him. I'll believe him. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, he he has not said anything so far that has that I have not like believed fully. Uh except for maybe that the Luca trade had nothing to do with this with this firing. But when you asked him like would you give your full support behind Jason Jason kid and he was like hey we're going to evaluate everything. Okay. Then he evaluated everything.

[00:24:48]>> Head to toe baby. Head to toe.

[00:24:50]>> They evaluated head to toe and apparently they got rid of they they cut a bunch. They did some lipo suction today in the organization. Um yeah I believe them. I believe that they that they'll do I mean, I I don't know what the though. Your question about the draft picks though did get me thinking about all right, maybe they're just they're just going to be in asset accumulation mode and Kyrie is maybe the first one to go. We talked about that on the show yesterday, but after hearing this quote, it makes me think that they won't.

[00:25:16]>> Yeah. I mean, like on on one hand, he's saying everything we do is through the lens of a building around a 19-year-old who is not going to peak for a couple more years, you know, we believe. Uh, but at the same time, like we have this curiosity about Coupe and Kyrie Irving playing together. I think I think where I fall on it is I think it's more likely than not that Kyrie is on the roster at the start of this this coming season and you know the Mavs just see how it goes for a couple months and then they've got the trade deadline in February and they can they can re-evaluate from there if if they feel like they got to do something. Um, just from the stuff you've heard from Messiah, I haven't talked to anybody on Kyrie's side. It seems like he's still pretty on board.

[00:25:53]Um I mean like I too am very curious to see how they fit together because they seem like an awesome basketball fit to me.

[00:26:01]>> Yeah.

[00:26:03]>> Cooper's job was so hard last year. Like that is exactly the the type of basketball player you want next to him where C you know Kyrie could set Cooper up for easier stuff and when Cooper wants to be a creator like you know Kyrie's like one of the best ever at here I'm on the wing and you create a small advantage for me and I just attack this close out and we score. So, I think they're an awesome basketball fit together. I know there's a 15-year age difference, but play together.

[00:26:29]>> 15. Is it? Yeah, I got it as 15. The the other thing that he said that Messiah said in this press conference was he's like Kevin Durant once told me there's only one Kyrie Irving. And I think that I think there's a curiosity with him about Kyrie in general um to see to see how he'll lead lead this team. He's also though the leader of the team. That's something that the Mavericks didn't really have except for on the bench as a pseudo player coach basically. And so I wonder if he he's looking at that too.

[00:26:57]>> Kyrie for player coach this year. Is that what you're saying?

[00:26:59]>> I I'm down honestly.

[00:27:02]Let's try it.

[00:27:03]>> Has there been one since Bill Russell or >> No, people keep saying LeBron will do it, but I don't see that. One of the other question you asked was uh about the other coaches that Messiah's hired in Toronto. He hired Nick Nurse and then and then Dark Oryovich. Um and and he basically said it's an open search.

[00:27:20]We'll see. We'll find the best candidate. What did you think of of that answer?

[00:27:23]>> Yeah, he he said, "Look, we're going to look at guys already in the NBA. We could call the college ranks. You know, we could we could go and look internationally."

[00:27:31]I mean, that's that's a classic we're keeping all of our options open answer.

[00:27:36]Um, look, I think when you just look at Msai's history, he he inherited coaches in Denver and Toronto, and George Kyle was there in Denver for three years, and that that worked out pretty well. And then Dwayne Casey was in Toronto for five years, and that worked out pretty well. The two coaches that Messiah has actually hired in in in Darko and Nick Nurse were both first-time NBA head coaches. So, that's that's one of the key questions in this to me is, is Messiah cool with hiring somebody who's never sat in the seat before? his history would suggest yes, but he didn't really provide any answers today. Um, you know, like I think everyone in the NBA is like connecting the Mavs with Sean Sweeney, who was here forever and worked under Jason Kidd is now the associate head coach in San Antonio. I think >> they should interview him if they can. I think people are connecting the Mavs with Mike Nory. Um, Ethan Cassen, you know, Mavs president on the business side, worked with Mike Nory, who's, you know, the lead assistant in Minnesota.

[00:28:30]Seems like a guy they should interview.

[00:28:32]I don't know if they will. And then the other people like people want to connect them with is Thiago Splitter. Mike Schmidtz worked with him in Portland.

[00:28:38]Um, you know, seemed like Thiago did a pretty good job as the interim. But I honestly don't know what's going to happen. I don't have a great sense of like what Messiah and Mike are thinking.

[00:28:47]That's just kind of like the scuttle in the NBA, you know, in the coaching cir circles or whatever. And partly because of something else Messiah said I found interesting is, you know, I think our our friend Jonah from WFAA asked if he had any coaches in mind or if he's talked to any other coaches and he said, "I would not do that. I would not talk to I have not made one call to to a potential coach without making this decision, announcing it, doing all that stuff, which is one respectful, but two interesting that now they're just starting this they're starting this coaching search from from nothing basically."

[00:29:18]>> I mean, he really had to feel it in his bones that it it wasn't right with Jason. you know, it see like to me, look, there's there's some history there. And I I think he really did use this these past two weeks as an evaluation period and really think on it. You know, he probably had an idea of what he wanted to do when he came in, but I think he genuinely used these past two weeks in an evaluation period and, you know, confirm that yes, I truly do want to move on from Jason. I mean, he said today he's like, look, it like I was okay going into the year with Jason.

[00:29:49]and it just we we just weren't really aligned on some stuff. I I think they could have made it work for a little bit. I think the other part of this too is like even if they had gone into the season with Jason, I think Jason, you know, probably knows like I'm not the guy long term. So, >> yeah, >> that's the other part of it, too. He He definitely I don't think it was going to be the long-term answer. So, >> and I wonder if Jason like was betting like, "Hey, they're not going to eat this money." And then boom, now now ownership beats the money is one of the more surprising things of this. And uh the decision is made. They part ways and here we are. Now they're looking for a head coach. We'll have that covered here. I'm sure. Christian Clark, go subscribe to The Athletic. Great stuff all the time over there covering the coaching search, whatever else they've got. Uh, anything else you want to plug?

[00:30:32]>> Uh, I I got a fun one coming out next week. I drove out to to Mount Vernon, Texas to hang out with the new mayor there, Greg Oster Tag. So, uh, look out for that on on the athletic next week.

[00:30:43]>> Mayor Oster tag. So, go check that out on the athletic. Guys, thanks for hanging out with us on Locked on Mav.

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[00:30:51]Guys, thanks for watching to Locked on Mavs. Peace out. Boom.