Choice of Jason Kidd will be debated all season long

Two days after Jason Kidd was introduced to the media on Thursday and a day after he (and Billy King) made the rounds of local and national radio shows, the debate --and scrutiny-- over Kidd's qualifications continue and are likely to continue throughout the season and probably through the three (or four) years of his contract.

The pundity is a little less harsh on Saturday than it was earlier in the week Harvey Araton of the Times seems to have moved from cautionary tale on Monday to begrudging endorsement on Saturday. Araton acknowledges the risk to Billy King's career as well as his fear that this is all driven by the Nets desire to surpass the Knicks, but he sums things up neatly by writing of the mutual attraction, "He had them at hello, Brooklyn."

Araton is not alone. Sean Deveney of The Sporting News calls King's hire of Kidd "desperation, an out-of-the-box move that the organization had little choice but to make." Barbara Barker of Newsday quotes Larry Brown, who provides her with a typical Larry Brown quote, ""I think it sends a bad message to hire guys who haven't coached," Brown told Barker.. "I don't think it's a good thing for our profession. That being said, I think this is a phenomenal hire. I have no doubt that Jason will do a great job."

Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal serves up a concoction of basketball, business and culture before concluding, "The Nets are on their third head coach in a calendar year, clunked out of the playoffs, and yet…there's still a sense that this is the beginning. The jerseys remain cool. The sandwiches are good. But that can't be enough. Now here's Jason Kidd—said to be ready, as always, to handle the basketball."

• Nets Couldn’t Pass Up Hiring of Kidd - Harvey Araton - New York Times
• Throwin' elbows: Jason Kidd's job with Nets challenging, to say the least - Sean Deveney - The Sporting News
• Former coaches think Jason Kidd has a good chance at success as new Nets coach - Barbara Barker - Newsday
• Kidd must show he loves coaching as much as he enjoyed The Life as a player - Mike Vaccaro - New York Post
  
• Jason Kidd Takes Over at the Barclays Center - Jason Gay - Wall Street Journal
• Jason Kidd Can Play, But Can He Coach? - Michael Salfino - Wall Street Journal
• Kidd was easy sell for Nets to fans - Steve Popper - The Record
  
• Brooklyn Nets think hiring Jason Kidd as head coach is a gamble that will pay off - Peter Schrager - FOX Sports