If the Mavericks don’t survive their first-round matchup with the New Orleans Hornets, what should they do in the offseason? Would Mark Cuban regret trading Devin Harris? For now, there are reports that the most obvious move Cuban would make is to fire head coach Avery Johnson. Would that be a smart move? Statistics wise, it is. Avery is 2-10 in his last 12 playoff games, which includes the 2006 Finals collapse.
Another thing to think about is whether or not to keep Jason Kidd. The move that brought Kidd to Dallas was supposed to be an upgrade for this season … nothing beyond this season. A rebuilding process might not be as appealing to team leader Dirk Nowitzki, so what other options does Cuban have? Can Dallas achieve what Mitch Kupchak did in Los Angeles? Kupchak made the Lakers a contender in an instant. Does Cuban have the pieces and connections (some say this is how Kupchak acquired Gasol from the Grizzlies for next to nothing) to be able to acquire the right pieces in the offseason for a legitimate Championship shot down the road?
Right now, the Mavericks just hope they can salvage this season and win it all to avoid any rebuilding panic. By winning the title, Mark Cuban can say that all the moves he’s made have finally paid off. But until that happens, Cuban has to think of ways to bring the Mavericks back to the top of the NBA.
