According to reporter Marc Stein, Los Angeles Lakers have to eliminate another coaching candidate from their list. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is reportedly set to receive a contract extension from Dallas, making him unavailable to the Lakers. This news comes as the Lakers are looking for a new coach following the dismissal of Darvin Ham after their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.

The uncertainty surrounding LeBron James adds to the Lakers’ offseason challenges, as James has the option to opt out of his contract and has not committed to returning to Los Angeles next season. Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, who led James to an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, was also expected to be a target for the Lakers. However, reports indicate that the Clippers are looking to sign Lue to an extension to keep him on their sideline.

Per Marc Stein’s Substack, the Lakers do not believe they will be able to sign Lue or Kidd. Kidd, who has led the Mavericks to two 50-win seasons and three playoff series wins in four attempts during his three seasons as head coach, appears poised to receive a contract extension in the near future. Sources suggest that Kidd’s availability is unlikely, making him off-limits for the Lakers.

Jason Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard who played for the Mavericks during their 2011 NBA championship run, recently guided the team to a first-round playoff victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks are set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round series. Kidd previously served as an assistant for the Lakers and as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.