As Mavs fans look into the future and ponder about what this offseason holds, a lot of questions come up. Will Cuban blow it up, will Josh Howard be here next year, or will they retool with the current team? I think the key to all the answers is Jason Kidd. That is why he holds the Mavs future in his hands.
When the season ends (most likely after the first round of the playoffs) Jason Kidd’s contract is up and the Mavs have a decision to make. Will they try to resign him to a 1 or 2 year deal or let him walk away like they did Steve Nash? This move will tell what Mark Cuban and the Mavs have up their sleeve, and will be at the top of their “offseason things to do” list. If Dallas makes a hard push at Kidd and resigns him, that means they are going to retool and make another run with this team in the 09-10 season. Why would Jason Kidd stay here to play with this same team you ask? Well, he won’t. That is the key. Kidd wants to win a title so the only way he stays here is if Cuban tells him that they are going to make some big moves in the offseason. I’m talking big moves, like signing Carlos Boozer or trading for someone like Bosh, Shaq, or Vince Carter. That will be the only way the Mavs keep Jason Kidd in Dallas.
If the offseason comes around and you hear nothing about the Mavs trying to resign Kidd, or if he walks away to sign with the Lakers or Cavaliers… that will signal the end of this Mavericks team as we know it. It will leave the team without a point guard to go along with their hole at shooting guard and center, and that is not a good thing. The Mavs have some trade pieces with J-Ho, Stackhouse, Dampier, and Bass but you want to use those to try and get a center or shooting guard, not to try and find a point guard. Barea has come a long way but he is not starting NBA point guard material. With holes at three major spots in the lineup Cuban will be forced to make trades for younger players or suffer through a mediocre 30 win season. Either way, you can kiss championship aspirations goodbye for a little while.
I hope the Mavs resign Jason Kidd. I am a fan of his, and he improves this team. Plus, I think this team can make one more push at a title if they bring in a key starter to the lineup. You already know I still want Shaq Diesel in Dallas to finally have a proven low post presence to put next to Dirk. Just think about it…it would be AWESOME!
Only time will tell…
(That is a crystal ball in Kidd’s hand in case you didn’t get it)
