Jason Kidd Trade 2014: Nets Ship Coach to Milwaukee for Two Draft Picks; Kidd’s Power Play Draws Criticism
Jason Kidd has successfully forced his way out of Brooklyn after the Nets agreed to "trade" him to the Milwaukee Bucks, multiple reports confirmed on Monday.
According to reports, the Nets received the Bucks' 2015 and 2019 second-round draft picks in exchange for releasing Kidd, who will be named as Milwaukee's new head coach.
Kidd, who led the Nets to a 44-38 record in his rookie season as coach, reportedly sought more control from the Nets, but the team's ownership group denied his request.
Kidd reportedly tried to take general manager Billy King's role, but his request was turned down. He then asked for permission to talk to the Bucks and was granted, which eventually led to his release.
Larry Drew, who coached the Bucks last season, was also reportedly fired from his post to give way for Kidd's arrival.
ESPN reported that Kidd will also not get the personnel control that he was asking now that he is with the Bucks, but most executives are allegedly convinced that he will eventually get it in the near future.
Kidd's action did not sit well to well-known media personalities, like Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, who called Kidd "shameless" for pursuing a job that belongs to someone else.
"Lost in this is violation of coach's code: You don't pursue job belonging to someone else. Humiliating end for Larry Drew. Kidd's shameless." Wojnarowski posted on his Twitter account.
Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports also took a swipe at Kidd, saying that the former All-Star point guard is not "much of a man" for betraying the people who gave him his first head coaching job.
"Jason Kidd, who has pleaded guilty to domestic abuse and DWI, may be a basketball legend but he's not much of a man. Brooklyn hired him anyway, and now this. This betrayal of Nets GM Billy King. It's embarrassing for everyone," Doyel wrote.
Doyel also blasted Bucks new owner Marc Lasry for his unprofessional acts after reports indicated that Drew and general manager John Hammond were not informed about the ongoing negotiations for Kidd's takeover.
"This one move, this deal to land serial jerk Jason Kidd when the team already had a coach and a general manager -- neither of whom had any idea this flirtation was happening -- tells us what we need to know about Marc Lasry. That he's a meddler," Doyel wrote.
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