A few weeks ago, Nico Harrison made a huge gamble when he let go of Luka Dončić to acquire Anthony Davis and Max Christie. The Mavs also offloaded Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
The move left the sporting world appalled, considering Luka’s talent and Anthony Davis’ injury woes in the last few years. The harsh truth is that the former Lakers big man struggled to remain 100% fit but still managed to ball out and put up DPOY-worthy performances.
Unfortunately for AD, he hasn’t played since making a sensational debut for the Dallas-based franchise. He is on the sidelines with an adductor strain, and recent reports indicate there isn’t much chance he will return this season.
To make matters worse for the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, the team’s other superstar, also suffered an ACL tear a few days ago and will surely miss the rest of the season. The team has seven players out indefinitely, including two centers (Daniel Gafford and Derick Lively II).
Jason Kidd Says There Isn’t a No.1 Option on Mavs’ Roster
Jason Kidd, the Mavs’ head coach, recently spoke to the media about who might be the team’s No.1 option now that both Kyrie and AD are out. He had a rather interesting answer to the question.
“There’s no number one option, it’s team. Everyone touches it and whoever is open, shoot it. We don’t have a number one or a number two, we’re not built like that right now, we’re built on team… This isn’t to run plays for one person,” he said.
Jason Kidd was asked about the difficulties of selecting a No. 1 option in games right now given the Mavs’ plethora of injuries.
“There’s no number one option, it’s team,” Kidd said. “Everyone touches it and whoever is open, shoot it. We don’t have a number one or a number two,…
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) March 8, 2025
It isn’t all that surprising. Kidd doesn’t have a superstar to rely on right now, and his best bet is to solidify the entire team.
One might mention Klay Thompson’s name in the conversation of a superstar in the Mavs locker room, but his numbers from this season indicate otherwise. The 4x NBA champ has been averaging only 14.1 points and 2 assists per game this season.
Speaking of Klay, Coach Kidd mentioned that the Mavs must help him. He said, “Klay is one of the best; he’s a future Hall of Famer, but we gotta set screens and create those opportunities for him.”
The move to Dallas hasn’t worked well for the former Warriors guard. But now that Kyrie and AD are on the sidelines, it is undoubtedly Klay’s time to shine.
He is still making at least 3 three-pointers per game this season, which is a good sign. The Mavs should aim to develop his strengths and set screens to capitalize on his shooting prowess, especially if they hope to make the play-in.