Jason Kidd's undeniable habit could doom Mavericks youngsters' crucial rise

The Dallas Mavericks have a dilemma at the shooting guard position. The team is expected to start Klay Thompson at the two spot, but it's possible that could change by the end of the season. Max Christie could be the starter to replace Thompson, as he is a two-way guard equipped with youth and experience.

Either way, both Thompson and Christie will be part of the team's 15-man roster next season. Thompson will be joined by other players, including Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, D'Angelo Russell, and Dereck Lively II, as they will probably make up the Mavs' starting lineup. On the bench could be Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, and Naji Marshall.

So, what about the bench players? Historically, Kidd typically employs a nine-man rotation. This means if things continue, he will have a tough decision to make regarding the rest of the squad.

Mavericks' young players face an uphill battle in Kidd's rotation

Kidd's past rotation might spell bad numbers for the rest of Dallas' bench. Nick Angstadt of Locked on Mavs tweeted last week that coach Kidd played nine players per game last season. In 2024, he averaged 8.9 players per game and 8.7 players in 2023. This means he lets nine players play per game.

If this trend continues, Kidd will struggle deciding who the ninth man in the rotation will be. Some options include Christie, Caleb Martin, Dante Exum, and Brandon Williams. All the players mentioned are worthy of valuable minutes. It will be a tough decision to make unless Kidd increases the usage of players per game.

However, let's suggest Kidd continues to use the nine-man rotation. This means 22-year-old Christie, 25-year-old Williams, 29-year-old Martin, or 30-year-old Exum will be booted from getting real minutes in the rotation. Three of the players mentioned will struggle to find time under Kidd's regime. It would be bad news for some of the Mavericks, as it would limit their skills and growth as players.

For example, remember how Christie was mentioned as possibly being part of the team's future starting lineup? Well, his struggle to find minutes would hurt his ability to prove his worth and build alongside Flagg. Plus, he averaged 30.4 minutes per game with Dallas, so he can't afford to see his numbers dip.

Christie, for instance, scored 15 or more points in his first seven games with Dallas. He showcased his ability to play two-way basketball. He gave fans hope for the future. Chrisite needs the minutes if he wants to be part of the Mavs' future.

So, like Christie, other players would also be restricted if Kidd continues to play a nine-man rotation. Martin averaged 19.6 minutes per game after being traded. His ability to play multiple positions was crucial for the team. Martin, along with Exum, helped keep the team afloat in the Play-In Tournament.

As for Exum, he was the team's comeback player of the year. He bounced back in the second half of the season, as he helped make up for Kyrie Irving's absence. Not to mention, Exum played a major role in the Mavs' first play-in game, as he scored 11 points and had six assists. He recently signed with Dallas, but the deal was yet to be confirmed. Dallas officially needs to bring him back. Exum and Williams proved quality guard depth for the team.

Williams, too, filled in nicely for Irving and was the team's offense. He averaged 16.6 points per game in March and was close to a double-double in the Mavs' final play-in game. He dropped 16 points and seven assists in the team's loss against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was no wonder Dallas signed him to a standard contract.

So, there is no one player who deserves minutes over the other. Kidd needs to increase the number of players per game if he wants to solve the dilemma. Plus, you can't forget Irving's absence. Once he returns, it's likely Russell moves to the bench. This means another player would also be booted from the team's rotation and lose valuable minutes.

The Dallas Mavericks have a dilemma every team wishes they had. It shows their team is stacked with key players. The problem is that multiple players will be hurt in the process. So, Dallas has the whole offseason and season to figure things out. Let's hope the team makes the right decision and builds the proper pieces around Flagg.