The Dallas Mavericks Need Jason Kidd

 

The Mavericks need Jason Kidd. 

No really, they need him. 

Don't get me wrong, Devin Harris is a great point guard and has a great career ahead of him. In contrast to an aging Jason Kidd, Harris should have many productive years ahead of him. 

Here's why Dallas can't compete without having Jason Kidd in their lineup: leadership. 

A couple of years ago Dallas Mavericks made a run at the NBA Finals, but couldn't pull it off.  Their most talented player, Dirk Nowitzki, couldn't perform at a high enough level to lead his team to a championship. 

Un-phased by their struggles, the Mavericks made another run last year, and Dirk picked up an MVP for his outstanding play during the regular season. 

Then came the tough part—the Mavericks were upset in the first round by the eighth seed Golden State Warriors.

In an important game six of the series, Nowitzki had just eight points.

What can Dallas do to improve their playoff performance?  Find a veteran leader that will come up big in pressure situations. 

Enter Jason Kidd.  Kidd is the perfect candidate because he has had a previous stint as a Maverick, and he is currently looking for a way out of New Jersey.  He is still a good enough player to contribute, but is past his prime, allowing Dallas to offer less to obtain him.

His play won't outshine Harris to the point they start blowing everybody out.  No, Harris has developed into a solid PG in the league, and should be a great contributor for years to come.  Where Dallas needs Kidd to shine is in the experience department. 

Can this be the year for the Mavericks?  Do they have what it takes to get back to the Finals?  Get your popcorn ready, because in a few months we're going to find out.