The Dallas Mavericks are on the cusp of one of the franchise's most important offseasons in recent memory. After trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks were blessed with another opportunity to draft their franchise cornerstone, winning the NBA's Draft Lottery and the ability to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.
The addition of Flagg hasn't just made the Mavericks must-watch TV, but it has completely changed the direction of the franchise. Now with Flagg on board, the Mavs have the option to restart, and it may start with replacing Nico Harrison.
While Harrison has been the clear No. 1 enemy in Dallas since he traded away Doncic for little to nothing in return, Jason Kidd has the opportunity to rip the hearts out of fans once again. After the New York Knicks coaching job shockingly opened up, Kidd has become a top priority in New York, and the chance to coach the Knicks may be too great for Kidd to pass on.
Taylor Jenkins is the Kidd replacement Mavericks can't afford to miss
Since being hired in the 2021 offseason, Kidd has provided the Mavericks with some all-time moments. In what many fans would consider a rollercoaster of emotions since Kidd took over head coaching duties in Dallas, the Mavs have been to the NBA Finals and the Western Conference Finals all in Kidd's short tenure as coach.
While in his four seasons, the Mavericks have missed the playoffs twice, this past season can't be blamed on Kidd, as he nearly rallied the Mavericks to their second straight playoff appearance. What's most impressive about Kidd is that he has kept the Mavericks competitive despite the Doncic trade and the numerous injuries that would have easily ended any other team's season.
Kidd has no doubt become a fan favorite in Dallas, and if he does choose to leave for the Knicks, the Mavericks would be scrambling to find anyone who can replace what Kidd gave to the Mavs. Luckily for Dallas, there are plenty of names in the coaching carousel, and the former Memphis Grizzlies head coach, Taylor Jenkins, may be the perfect replacement.
When the Grizzlies shockingly fired Jenkins with nine games left in the regular season, it set a precedent that no job is safe in the NBA. While the Grizzlies would go on to beat the Mavericks and advance to the playoffs as an eighth seed, the mystery around Jenkins' firing still has yet to be solved.
In six seasons with the Grizzlies, Jenkins would lead Memphis to the playoffs three times while only advancing past the first round once in 2022. Jenkins not only became one of the youngest coaches in league history, but he also helped establish the Grizzlies as one of the best emerging young teams in the league until his firing.
Jenkins not only understands how to mold a young player into a superstar with Ja Morant, but he could have the opportunity to do it once again with Flagg. Jenkins also made the Grizzlies a tough defensive unit with his hard-nosed brand of basketball.
With Jenkins only being 39 years old, he is still one of the top names available in the coaching market. It's unclear where Kidd lands on his stance with the Mavericks, but if he does leave for New York, Jenkins would be at the top of any list for fans wanting the Mavericks to make a splash in the coaching market.
Jenkins would likely help Dallas' defensive-minded roster right away while also molding Flagg into the potential superstar he could become. The Mavericks will likely decline any meeting between Kidd and the Knicks, but the second Harrison catches wind of Kidd potentially wanting to leave, he should make Jenkins a priority.
