Empty the Bench

The once-proud Dallas Mavericks are hovering around .500 and the bottom of the Western Conference’s playoff ladder. And while Josh Howard has missed some games, their record isn’t a mirage: this is a mediocre team. They sit mired in the ether somewhere between an aging squad’s last chance at contention and a complete rebuilding phase. It’s depressing to see Dirk in the middle of this mess, but with a player option after next season he won’t be there for long.

The Mavericks have the second-largest payroll in the league at $92.3 million this season, but it’s being wasted on a roster of fading and mismatched talent. Marshalling the bad-contract parade is Jason Kidd, the fourth-highest paid player in the league. His $21.4 million will mercifully come off the books after this season – and the Mavs should be happy to let him walk. They’re not going anywhere with this group, it’s time to think of the future. Dirk Nowitzki is the face of the franchise, but at 30 years of age and with the ability to opt out after next season he presents a dilemma. Do they want to pay him, even if he chooses to stay?

If Dirk had a younger running mate or two in the prime of their careers it might make sense for him to stick around, but they don’t. The closest thing this team has to youth and potential is 22-year-old Gerald Green, a guy who couldn’t stick in youth-oriented Minnesota or athletically-starved Houston last season. On top of that they traded away their first-round draft picks for this year and next in the Jason Kidd gaffe last season, so reinforcements are not on the way. Dallas is in dire need of a young playmaker on the perimeter who can play both ways, take the ball to the basket, put pressure on defenses and run the floor.

They need someone like Devin Harris, the guy they unceremoniously shipped out of town last season (along with those two first-round picks) for the bloated contract of Jason Kidd. The 25-year-old is enjoying an incredible breakout season and gets my early vote for the Most Improved Player award. After blowing up in back-to-back games on November 29th and 30th Harris is averaging 25 points, 6.5 assists, and nearly 4 rebounds with remarkable efficiency of 49% FGs and 82% FTs. In those two games alone he exploded for 81 points on 27-of-42 shooting, and he’s reached the 30-point plateau in 6 of his 13 games this season.

I’m a big Devin Harris fan, but I didn’t expect this kind of offensive production so soon. What I did expect was the solid defense. Harris has exceptional lateral quickness, fast hands, and good size for the position. He’s already an elite defender, and adding in the efficient and prolific offensive production has made him one of the best young players in basketball even if few are taking notice. With a salary of just $7.8 million this season he’s one of the league’s best bargains as well.

Last season the Mavs suffered an embarrassing first-round loss to the New Orleans Hornets in which they looked as old and creaky as they have since the emergence of Dirk Nowitzki. They looked tired then, and this season hasn’t been any better. As Ryan Schwan of Hornets 24/7 points out, the efficiency of the Dallas offense is, “tied for the worst decline in the league with the Baron Davis-less Warriors. Go Jason Kidd.” The Kidd experiment has proven an unquestionable mistake and it might be time to blow this team up. While Dirk eyes free agency more keenly with each loss, Mavs fans have to wonder what could have been if they’d only held on to Devin Harris. Oh, and those two first-round picks would be nice, too.

Related Reading:
- Jason Kidd, the Newest Dallas Maverick?
- The Day the Dallas Mavericks Died
- The Dallas Mavericks Quietly Abscond with Former Dunk Champ Gerald Green
- DeSagana Diop was One Tall Maverick

Devin Harris Photo Credit: Icon SMI