The Mavericks Just Paid Jason Kidd $40 Million to Leave. Here’s Why

It has been more than a month since the Dallas Mavericks parted ways with Jason Kidd as their head coach. The decision came after new team president Masai Ujiri took over and decided to make sweeping changes throughout the organization. Kidd had recently signed a contract extension, but the team’s governor, Patrick Dumont, was willing to pay over $40 million to let him leave.

This move didn’t happen without a loss of confidence in Kidd. Dumont had previously supported a trade of Luka Doncic in February 2025, believing that Kidd could still lead a competitive team. However, after the trade, the Mavericks struggled, finishing with a record of 40-77. While injuries played a role, many believed that Kidd’s coaching wasn’t up to par.

Kidd often approached the regular season with a lack of seriousness, frequently experimenting with lineups and rotations. His decision to play Cooper Flagg at point guard early in the season drew significant criticism, as it slowed down the offense. Although this helped Flagg develop, it also hurt the team’s overall performance.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, several factors contributed to the decision to move on from Kidd, including his desire to transition into the front office. “That didn’t help his cause,” MacMahon said when asked if Kidd’s push for a front-office role led to his dismissal. “For whatever reason, I got the sense that Patrick Dumont just lost confidence and trust in him. And when Masai was hired, the decision was left up to Masai, and it was made very clear, like, ‘Hey, if you want to move on J-Kidd… It’s fine with me,’ is kind of the gist I got.”

Jason Kidd is a Rich Man, But Not a Coach Anymore

Coach Kidd was given over $40 million not to coach the Mavericks anymore. It seems like he may have been moving away from coaching anyway, considering his desire to jump to the front office.

We know he won’t be getting a head coaching job this offseason. The Mavericks were one of the last teams to hire their coach, and the last team, the Portland Trail Blazers, went with Micah Nori on a unique contract with multiple team options. Kidd was never going to accept an offer like that.

The Mavs have moved on to Dusty May, who comes over from Michigan after winning a national championship there this year. It’s a calculated gamble for the Mavs, but one they think will pay off.