Mavericks must make this cut-throat move if they want Luka Doncic to come home

A year ago, the Dallas Mavericks and Nico Harrison pulled off one of the most unexpected moves in NBA history, as they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a move that stunned basketball fans everywhere, and it's clear Mavs fans might not ever get over the trade. Dallas, though, can rewrite history by bringing Doncic back in two years.

The only problem is that Dallas would likely need to fire coach Jason Kidd if they want to see Doncic in a Mavs uniform again.

Hypothetically, the reality of Doncic returning isn't completely over. There would need to be a lot of moving parts if Doncic came back, but it’s not impossible. Firing Kidd would need to be one of the organization's first moves. Kidd's knowledge of the trade strained his relationship with Doncic, and he would need to be fired if the Mavs ever tried to make another run at their former star.

Doncic's return, though, would hinge on his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Mav can opt out of his current contract with the Lakers in the summer of 2028. The idea of Doncic leaving the Lakers has already Dallas fans dreaming.

Firing Jason Kidd could spark Luka Doncic's return in 2028

Doncic has faced his former team four times since being traded. He has been dominant against the Mavs, and it's clear his relationship with the franchise will never completely fade away.

The Slovenian star has expressed nothing but gratitude for his time in Dallas. He has always been supportive of his time with the Mavs, and he is always showered with love whenever he returns. Doncic returns the favor by connecting with fans and old teammates.

Kidd, though, is the one person Doncic fails to connect with after Dallas plays Los Angeles, and it’s extremely noticeable. It's a sign that if Dallas ever hopes to bring back Doncic, Kidd would need to be gone.

Remember, Dallas already got rid of the mastermind (Nico Harrison) behind the trade, and if they got rid of Kidd, it would be a positive step in their momentum to bring Doncic home.

Dallas has the perfect plan to bring Doncic home

If Dallas were to get rid of Kidd, they would also likely need to have Mark Cuban as their majority owner again for their plan to work. The former owner would be the perfect ingredient for Doncic to return home. Cuban has made it clear multiple times that he would have never traded the current Laker.

Although Cuban's return might be difficult, as Patrick Dumont recently made it clear, he is not interested in selling the Mavericks. Dumont's connection with the team will always be strained, as he was the one who signed off on the Doncic trade. So, unless Cuban gets more involved, it would be hard to see Doncic in a Mavs uniform.

However, if Damian Lillard's return to Portland taught fans anything, it's that you can never rule out a star return. Dallas will need to lay the groundwork for Doncic to come home.

The Mavs already did right in firing Nico Harrison. The organization now must find a way to get Cuban involved and they will need to fire Jason Kidd if Luka Doncic considers a return home. Assuming everything above happens, Doncic's return would be poetic justice for a fanbase still grieving over their former star player.