Lakers Rumors: Jason Kidd Not On Los Angeles' Head Coaching List, Despite Previous Reports

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the Los Angeles Lakers could consider hiring Jason Kidd as their head coach if Luke Walton is fired. Kidd has been linked to L.A. for a few months, but there is some doubt regarding how likely he might be to land a gig with the Lakers.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith noted on “First Take” Monday morning that he’s hearing Los Angeles doesn’t plan on bringing in Kidd to replace Walton.

“I've been told there's no way that they’re really considering Jason Kidd,” Smith said less than 24 hours after Wojnarowski’s report. “He's not on their list. That's what I'm hearing, but I also want to emphasize I’m not covering the NBA like that. As much as I cover these games and what have you, I’m not on the phones with these executives every single day as intimately as the great Adrian Wojnarowski.

“But in this particular story, the Lakers are saying, ‘No, we’re not interested in Jason Kidd.’”

Walton is widely expected to be let go after what's been a disastrous season in LeBron James’ first year with the team. The Lakers have already been eliminated from playoff contention. L.A. will miss the postseason for the sixth straight year and the third straight year under Walton.

Kidd was fired in the middle of last season as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have the NBA’s best record after the team never won a playoff series in nearly four years with Kidd at the helm.

Tyronn Lue is expected to be a top candidate for the job if it opens. Lue led James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to three straight NBA Finals and a championship in 2016.