Mavericks plot bold ending to Jason Kidd drama to jumpstart the Cooper Flagg era

The Dallas Mavericks' best move of the offseason came five days before free agency began on Monday night, as they drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft last Wednesday. Landing Flagg gave the Mavericks a better offseason than anyone could have expected, but even at the time of the draft, the rumors about Jason Kidd leaving for the New York Knicks to become their head coach were still lingering.

Nico Harrison finally verbally put those rumors to rest after the first round of the draft by saying that Kidd would be the coach of the team to begin the season, and Dallas has the chance to obliterate these rumors once and for all by giving him a contract extension this summer. This was an option that fans begged for as the Knicks rumors floated above the Mavericks' heads, and according to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas plans to offer Kidd a contract extension (subscription required) before the 2025-26 season begins to make him the head coach of the Mavs for years to come, and this is an outstanding move to make right as the Flagg era begins.

Fans feared that the uncertainty surrounding Kidd's Mavericks future was going to get Flagg's time in Dallas started off on the wrong foot, but it sounds like Harrison will make the no-doubter move of extending his contract and reassuring fans that Kidd is the coach that they want to lead Flagg and company in a pivotal 2025-26 season and beyond.

Mavericks look to double down on Jason Kidd with a contract extension

Kidd seems like he will be the perfect coach for Flagg, as he has successfully coached superstars throughout his career, with notable examples including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was key in helping make the Irving-Doncic partnership work as well as it did, and with his No. 1 focus being defense, Flagg will fit that mold perfectly.

When asked by The Smoking Cuban about Mavericks culture on Friday, Flagg emphasized that it includes being a two-way player and playing as hard as he can at all times. Kidd truly gets the most out of his guys all the time, and having him leave for the Knicks right as Flagg arrives would have been absolutely disastrous.

During the pre-draft process, after the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery and it was known they would select Flagg. Kidd was the team's spokesperson, as he had multiple radio and podcast appearances to discuss Flagg and what he thought of his game. He was showing his dedication to the team by stepping up for his organization in this way, as it was widely known that he didn't enjoy having to be the team's spokesperson after the Doncic trade, and he was also one of the key members of Flagg's pre-draft meeting.

Flagg aced his workout with the Mavericks just a week before the NBA Draft, and he seemed to enjoy getting to know front office members, coaches, and some of the players during his visit. Things got real after he was drafted, and he travelled to Dallas for his introductory press conference last week, and even by watching Kidd and Flagg together on stage, it was obvious that they will get along great, and ultimately form a strong partnership at the helm of the Mavs for years to come.

The Mavericks extension of Kidd will show their confidence in him to lead the early days of Flagg's career, and Kidd plans to make Flagg a focal point within the team's system right away.