Jason Kidd meets with Nets GM Billy King about coaching vacancy

Jason Kidd reportedly met with Billy King Monday, hoping to convince the Nets general manager that he's ready to be a head coach just days after hanging up his sneakers to end a 19-year playing career.

Kidd badly wants the Nets' job and all indications point to the future Hall of Famer being a serious contender for the gig vacated when the Nets cut ties with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo.

King is expected to meet Wednesday with another candidate, Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw, and the Nets reportedly could have their replacement by the end of the week.

Kidd likely would have to surround himself with coaches who have various bench experience, and Lawrence Frank could be a real possibility, though Frank hasn't apparently committed to such a move. But the former Nets coach, who was fired by the Pistons in April after going 54-94 in two seasons in Detroit, essentially endorsed Kidd for the job during an appearance on "Mike'd Up" on Sunday night.

"I think Jason could become a great coach," Frank said. "Think about his training -- 19 years of playing, an NBA championship, two Olympic gold medals . . . One of the smartest players to ever play the game, a great leader who has a great presence. I think Jason could be a great head coach."

Sixers president Rod Thorn, whose trade brought Kidd to the Nets in 2001, suggested such a rapid transition from player to coach without any experience isn't ideal.

"I think it's that hard," Thorn said on ESPN 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show" Monday. "But saying that, of all the people that I've been around, if anybody could do it, I think Jason Kidd could do it."