Grizzlies just gifted Mavericks with the perfect Jason Kidd replacement

The Dallas Mavericks' 2024-25 season has been unlike anything fans could have ever expected, as they went from reaching the NBA Finals last season with Luka Doncic leading the way to fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament with Anthony Davis leading the charge and Kyrie Irving sidelined due to a torn ACL.

Nico Harrison trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the season shows that no one within the organization is safe, and that could even trickle down to Jason Kidd eventually if he can't get the Mavericks back to where they need to be. Kidd has shown that he can be an elite defensive coach when given the right personnel, but if the Mavericks can't get it done with the team they have, Harrison could decide to bring in another coach who he thinks would better lead this new era of Mavs basketball.

This seems unlikely considering Harrison and Kidd's relationship and the foundation they have built together in a short amount of time, but if they were to look elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies just provided Dallas with an excellent replacement option.

Taylor Jenkins would be an intriguing hire for the Mavericks

On Friday, the Grizzlies unexpectedly fired Taylor Jenkins, and he will immediately become a hot commodity for teams looking for a new head coach. Jenkins led the Grizzlies to a 44-29 record and the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference before being let go with less than 10 games to go in the regular season, giving other teams the perfect chance at signing him this summer.

When he has a healthy team to work with, Jenkins has been one of the better defensive-minded coaches in the NBA, and he would have plenty of tools to work with in Dallas if they were to explore making a coaching change in the near future. Jenkins would have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington as three switchable bigs in the starting lineup, and he could bring his gritty defensive scheme to Dallas.

On the other end of the floor, Jenkins would emphasize the Mavericks pushing the pace. Memphis plays faster than any team in the league, and he would have them playing a fast-paced offense with Davis and Kyrie Irving (once he returns) leading the way. Irving thrives when playing fast, as he loves shooting transition pull-up threes and getting to the bucket, and Davis also likes playing in transition.

Jenkins is also known for running more of a set offense than Kidd, as Dallas relies significantly on isolation play from their guards. This has obviously changed some with Doncic gone, but Jenkins would push for more off-ball actions and ball movement, which would lead to better looks for players like Klay Thompson and Max Christie.

All in all, it doesn't look like the Mavericks will explore getting rid of Kidd since they just signed him to a contract extension last season and have been extremely successful over the last few years, but just as fans saw with the Doncic trade, any move can happen at any time. Kidd could quickly be on the hot seat if Harrison doesn't believe in him or if he doesn't succeed with the new roster, and Dallas' timeline to win is as soon as possible. The Mavericks need big results soon since they traded Doncic, and Kidd's job may not end up being as secure as everyone thinks if he doesn't replicate the success he has displayed over the last few years.

Jenkins would be a great option for the Mavericks if they were looking to make a coaching change, as he would spearhead the new era with plenty of pieces that fit the way he likes his teams to play.