Report: Kidd a serious candidate for Lakers job if Walton fired

The Los Angeles Lakers will consider Jason Kidd a serious candidate to be their next head coach if Luke Walton is fired, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Kidd is also expected to be a target for the Cal head coaching job, though the Hall of Famer remains interested in returning to the NBA, a source told ESPN's Marc J. Spears.

There is a belief within NBA coaching circles that Walton will "almost certainly" be fired after this season, according to a report from Marc Stein of the New York Times earlier this month.

The 46-year-old Kidd last coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014 to 2018. He managed the franchise to a 139-152 regular-season record over four seasons and led them to two playoff appearances. He was fired in January 2018, however, after mustering a 23-22 record in 2017-18.

Kidd made his head coaching debut with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013-14. He secured a 44-38 record and a playoff series win over the Toronto Raptors in his first and only season with the team. His coaching rights were then traded to the Bucks after the season for two second-round picks.

Walton, 38, took over as coach of the Lakers in April 2016 after previously serving as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors. He has managed the side to a 92-144 record in three seasons.