The Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching search has been defined by one overriding characteristic since new owner Tom Dundon took control in March: the reported salary ceiling of $1-2 million annually. A figure so low that a handful of NBA assistant coaches approached by the organization have already declined to participate in the process. That budget constraint has shaped every name in the conversation. It has also inadvertently opened the door for one of the most decorated coaches available, a man the Mavericks are still paying $40 million not to coach their team.

NBA insiders Jake Weinbach and Mike Scotto reported that Jason Kidd could emerge as a candidate for Portland’s head coaching vacancy, and the financial logic behind it is straightforward. “Kidd has a relationship with new Blazers owner Tom Dundon and may be willing to accept a low annual salary since the Mavericks still owe him $40 million over the next four years,” Weinbach wrote. The arithmetic solves Portland’s budget problem immediately. Kidd does not need the Trail Blazers to pay him a market-rate head-coaching salary, as he is already receiving one from Dallas for doing nothing. Whatever Portland offers on top of that is supplementary income attached to a job he genuinely wants.

The Dundon relationship is the detail that makes the candidacy real rather than speculative. Throughout this search, Tom Dundon signaled that he wants a coach who will be accountable to him directly and whose profile aligns with his vision of a harder-edged culture. A key stated priority from Dundon throughout the process has been finding someone who will “coach players hard.”

That description fits Kidd’s reputation in Dallas. He was respected for demanding standards even when the roster around him was not good enough to meet them. A prior personal connection between the two men, combined with Kidd’s willingness to work for an incremental salary, has essentially created a candidate profile that no other name in Portland’s current pool can replicate.

The Blazers’ search narrowed to a group of finalists that currently includes Jeff Van Gundy, Tiago Splitter, Micah Nori, Tyler Lashbrook, and Mike Williams.

They are all assistant coaches or first-time head coaching candidates, which is exactly why Kidd’s name landing in the conversation represents a significant shift. Kidd guided Dallas to a Western Conference Finals in his first season and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024, a résumé that dwarfs every other name being discussed in Portland.

The question of whether the Blazers’ budget constraints made a coach of his caliber accessible has just been answered by the Mavericks’ buyout structure, which effectively subsidizes his next job at whatever franchise is willing to give him one.

“A Relationship With Dundon”: Why Portland Makes Sense for Kidd’s Next Chapter

The Trail Blazers are a more attractive landing spot than their recent turbulence implies. Interim coach Tiago Splitter guided Portland to a 42-40 regular-season record after he took over following Chauncey Billups’ arrest and suspension on federal gambling charges, a genuinely impressive result for a team navigating front office chaos.

Furthermore, Deni Avdija emerged as a legitimate star. And the core of Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe represents one of the youngest and most intriguing frontlines in the Western Conference, the kind of developmental canvas that a coach with Kidd’s player development track record is well-positioned to work with.

Damian Lillard is also potentially returning next season, which would immediately elevate Portland’s ceiling from playoff participant to genuine contender conversation.

Kidd has $40 million in guaranteed money coming from Dallas, regardless of what he does next, which means that his only motivation for taking any job is the work itself. That motivation is significant. Coaches who need the money take whatever is available. Coaches who don’t need it choose what genuinely interests them.

The fact that Kidd is reportedly open to Portland, and specifically that the Dundon relationship is cited as a factor, suggests he sees something in the franchise’s direction that aligns with whatever he wants to build next.

The Blazers, for their part, get an NBA Finals-level head coach at a price their unconventional owner can justify. On paper, at least, the fit is cleaner than anything else Portland has identified so far.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​