Jason Kidd Decision Heads the Top Five Offseason Questions for the Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are at a huge crossroads at this point in their franchise.  After another trip to the playoffs that ended in frustration, many questions surround this team.  They have stars that are free agents, a core that has quickly gotten very old, and a couple of guys that just don't fit well with this current group of players. 

Cutting out the fat, here are the five biggest questions that the Mavs are going to be facing over the next few months...

1)  Do the Mavs Re-Sign Jason Kidd?

Yes, he is a future hall of famer.  Yes, he still put up very balanced numbers.  Yes, he shot a career high from behind the arc last season.  However, while he'll still impress you occasionally with a sweet pass, or a fourth quarter steal, his effectiveness has diminished considerably. 

His feet are no longer quick enough to stay in front of talented point guards, sometimes making him a liability on the defensive end.  When you have a player who made his name by passing, rebounding, and playing great defense, it makes a big difference when the latter point of that triangle disappears. 

Yet, the most troubling and frustrating thing about this version of Jason Kidd's game, is that he can't even make layups consistently anymore.  It literally seems as though he is afraid to attempt a shot that isn't a wide open three. 

Numerous times, Kidd would penetrate into the lane and pass up a wide open layup or shot.  Instead, he would jump and get caught in the air looking to dump off the ball.  More often than not, this resulted in turnovers. 

Looking ahead, Kidd is not going to be the point guard that leads the Mavs to a title.  There will be a handful of teams that would love to make Kidd their backup point guard, or to have him help tutor one of their own young ball handlers. 

The only way the Mavericks sign Jason Kidd to another contract is if Kidd's options are considerably smaller than he would like, which would allow them to sign him for less money.  The only other reason the Mavs could re-sign him would be if they do not pick up a talented point guard in the draft, or elsewhere in free agency.

MY TAKE:  Do not re-sign Kidd, find a point guard in the draft or free agency. Having Kidd on the Mavs at this point is simply a waste of time.

2)  Which way do the Mavericks go in the Draft?

The Mavericks drastically need talented youth at the center, point guard, and shooting guard positions.  This year's draft class is one of the weakest in years.  There are an abundance of hit or miss players who will be rookies this upcoming season. 

The Mavs have five different roads they can go down with this one.  They can trade up to get in the top four or five picks and try to get an immediate impact player.  They can trade down to possibly get the same value later in the draft as they would at pick 22 since it is such a weak draft. 

Either one would make sense, however it would be smarter to trade up. 

If they stand pat at their current spot, they then have to decide on which position to draft.  While they need a center and a shooting guard, point guard is the immediate issue here.  Whichever way they decide to go, they desperately need to add talented youth to their basketball team.

MY TAKE:  Look for them to take someone like North Carolina's Ty Lawson.  With the Jason Kidd situation up in the air, and JJ Barea as their only only point guard on the roster, this shouldbe a no brainer.  

3)  Should they trade Josh Howard?

If there is a decision that could change the outlook for this franchise more than anything else, this is it.  Josh Howard is a player that has all the talent in the world, but his low basketball and general I.Q. prevent him from being a legitimate piece of a championship team. 

He is supposed to be the Mavericks' number two player, complimenting Dirk Nowitzki, but he has yet to figure out how to do that.  If he played to his strengths, which are slashing to the basket, defense, and rebounding, he would fit perfectly.  However, he has turned into a player in love with the jump shot, and a guy who doesn't know when to pass the ball.  

He just no longer is a logical fit in Dallas, and the Mavs need to move him.  The problem with this is that his inconsistency hurts his trade value.  Talent wise, the Mavericks could trade him straight up for a guy like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Michael Redd, and Jason Richardson among others.

Unfortunately, his mental incapacity and the baggage he brings make it almost impossible to do one of those deals without throwing in another significant piece or two. 

MY TAKE:  The Mavericks cannot turn their ship around and head back up the mountain with Josh Howard on their team, simple as that.

4)  If Jason Kidd leaves, and the Mavs do not get a starting point guard in the draft or free agency, can JJ Barea run the team?

This is a scary possibilty.  JJ Barea really had a coming out party last season, it seems as though his time playing under Jason Kidd for the last year and a half have really helped his development. 

The problem is that he is 5'9''.  I understand he is listed as 6 foot, but i've stood next to him and there's just no way. 

He is extremely talented, and small point guards have been successful in the past, but this can really become a liability on the defensive end. 

Also, what if his development hits a plateau?  Is he really good enough at this point to be the full-time starting point guard for a championship caliber team?

MY TAKE:  JJ Barea is possibly the best back up point guard in the league.  He has way more value in that role than as a starter.  If the Mavs are forced into making him their main guy they are going to have huge problems.

5)  In a sellers market that will be the NBA this season, should the Mavs try to land a big name now, or wait until the big free agency period at the end of next season?

This one is tricky.  The Mavericks window of opportunity of winning a championship is closing rapidly.  Dirk Nowitzki just celebrated his 31st birthday, and probably only has 3 years left of playing at his current MVP level.  After that, the Mavericks will need a new number one guy. 

So, if the Dallas Mavericks could land a legitimate piece or two to put next to Dirk now, should they make the move?  Yes, they would be forfeiting their chance to land a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, but it is highly unlikely they would land a guy like that anyway. 

With many teams looking to save money and create cap room for the coveted free agency period that will possibly feature those affirmentioned players, there should be many moves on the table over the next 8 months.

MY TAKE:  Pull the trigger!  If the Mavericks can get another all-star, and a legitimate guy in the middle, they will be just as scary as anyone in the league.  Why waste another year of your superstar's prime, when you could possibly do something with it right now?

How the Mavericks address these questions and issues will determine which direction their franchise will head over the next few years.  Possibly quicker than any other team in the league, they can become contenders again, or they could be forgotten and irrelevant.