Kidd's bold lineup tweak exposes roster move Mavericks must make ASAP

The Dallas Mavericks' brutal four-game losing streak ended on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons, as Dallas won 123-117. They finally got back on track, and this win gave them some needed momentum ahead of the upcoming four-game road trip.

Despite the win, Dallas consistently only has eight or nine players available to play, which is dangerously close to the eight-player limit which warrants a forfeit if not met, and the state of the team is in a rough spot considering the sky-high expectations before the season. The Mavs can't catch a break, and the only thing that will get this time closer to being fully healthy is the end of the season.

While Anthony Davis is making good progress in his rehab, his return date is still uncertain as the Mavericks are unsure if they want him to return or not. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford have also been working toward a return, as they practiced with the Texas Legends on Friday, but their returns are not guaranteed either.

Dallas' center rotation has been battered for weeks, but Jason Kidd has found a short-term solution that Mavericks fans are growing to love for the rest of the season, and hopefully into the future.

Kai Jones deserves a standard contract for Mavericks

Kai Jones has started the last two games for Dallas (despite being on a minutes restriction), and he is truly making a name for himself in this league. Jones dominated on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, and while his game on Friday against the Pistons wasn't as exciting, he was still positive in his minutes.

Jones finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, clearly outplaying fellow center Dwight Powell. Jones starting over Powell speaks volumes, and he should continue to start moving forward. His skill set is unique, as he can push the ball in transition himself, and he has been one of the few bright spots on the team after recovering from a quad strain earlier this week.

Jones' energy, versatility, and athleticism make him perfect for Dallas' system, and his play recently has been so good that the Mavericks should sign him to their final roster spot next month. Jones is currently on a two-way deal, and the Mavs should lock him up on a standard deal as soon as they get the chance on April 10.

"His ability to change shots, his ability to playmake has been really good for us," Kidd said about Jones after the game. "And then just his ability to have the vertical game, and so that’s something we haven’t had, and for him to do that, he seemed like he had been with us all year."

If the Mavericks want Jones available for the playoffs (if they make it), they must get him signed to a standard deal, and if they don't, someone else likely will. Jones's ability to play above the rim, switch on defense, and protect the rim is strong, and he'd be a valuable bench asset for any team looking for athleticism and energy from their big man spot.

Kidd's ability to weather the storm and get the most out of his players over the last month has been criminally underrated, and this is going to have to continue until the end of the season as many of Dallas' injured players may not return. Jones has six games of eligibility left on his two-way deal, and time will tell if the Mavericks sign him to a standard deal to allow him to play the last few games of the regular season and to be a member of Kidd's rotation into the future.