Mavericks' shocking rotational decision shows veteran's future is far from certain

The Dallas Mavericks have dropped three games in a row ahead of their game tonight against the Utah Jazz, and their struggles in the clutch continued into Klay Thompson's return to the Bay, as Dallas couldn't close the game out after being up by seven points with less than four minutes remaining.

Thompson remains confident that it's better to go through these struggles now rather than down the final stretch of the season, and they have to find a way to win close games. Winning close games is one of the most important factors of being an elite contender, and it helps prepare the team for the playoffs.

It's clear that Jason Kidd is still figuring out his rotations and what combinations of players work in different scenarios, and while Quentin Grimes has seen a huge bump up in his minutes, one Mavs veteran has seen his minutes go way down.

Kidd not playing Kleber could point to Dallas being ready to move on

Mavs fans are used to seeing Maxi Kleber playing big minutes off the bench, but that has not been the case since he returned from a right hamstring strain that kept him sidelined since the end of October. Kleber has been available to play for the last two games, but Kidd elected not to play him at all.

While this could plainly just be Kidd not trying to rush back Kleber as injuries haven't been his friend over the last few years, it could also mean that Dallas doesn't trust him as much as they once did. Kleber has been a huge piece to Dallas' success since he arrived in Dallas in 2017, but the past few years have not gone as well as Mavs fans would have hoped.

When he's on the floor and healthy for an extended period of time, he's great. He can guard multiple positions, protect the rim, and knock down threes off the catch from outside.

When he is playing injured or having to rush back from injury, he is at his worst. His confidence as a shooter dwindles and his offensive game becomes nonexistent. The Mavs have been stuck in this cycle with Kleber for a while now considering that he only played 80 games over the last two seasons combined, and it may be time for Dallas to move on if the opportunity presents itself.

He isn't the same reliable role player that he once was (because of his injuries), and Kidd electing to bench him for the last two games could be pointing to how the Mavs feel deep down about him.

Kleber is in the second year of a three-year, $33 million contract extension with Dallas, if they did want to move him, his salary is moveable. Injuries remain the main concern for Kleber, his performance on the court has declined over the years as well.

Kleber played about 15 minutes in both of the games he played in this season and if he continues to not play despite being healthy, this could be a sign that the Mavs are ready to move in a different direction.