DHJ Quick Take
- Frustration With Trade Talk: Jason Kidd expressed a desire to stop discussing the Luka Dončić trade, urging a focus on the team’s “present and future” and the opportunity to build a new championship contender.
- Response to Mark Cuban: While acknowledging Cuban’s past support, Kidd deflected comments regarding the former owner’s “seller’s remorse” and involvement in the Dončić trade, stating that matters between owners should remain between them.
- Focus on the Future: Despite the Dallas Mavericks being set to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year, Kidd emphasized his confidence in current owner Patrick Dumont and the development of rookie standout Cooper Flagg.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is tired of talking about the Luka Dončić trade.
After Mark Cuban said on the Intersections podcast that Kidd played a role in the Dončić trade last season, Kidd strongly responded while talking to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
“When are we going to move on? We have to move forward,” Kidd said. “We’re focused on the present and the future and we’ve got an incredible opportunity to build. I truly believe the Mavs fans have built before and will build again. And we want them to be a part of this build.”
Kidd also spoke about Cuban saying he regrets selling the Mavericks to Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont.
“And so the things that are going on between two owners is between the two owners,” Kidd said. “I think we have a great owner in Patrick and he’s going to give us every resource to build a championship team. Out of respect to Cuban, he helped me and my family. We won a championship together. The two owners will figure it out. I truly believe that we have to focus on the present and the future. We’ve got a great opportunity.”
Mavericks Have Been Putrid Since the Dončić Trade
The Mavericks missed the playoffs last season after trading Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. They will miss the playoffs this season as well. That means the franchise will not see playoff basketball two years in a row after reaching the NBA Finals in 2024.
Kidd may not want to talk about the Dončić trade anymore, but people in Dallas will be talking about that trade until the Mavericks win another championship. Cooper Flagg leading the franchise to a championship is the only way the Dončić trade won’t be brought up anymore.
With the Mavericks in the gutter this season and Dončić putting up MVP numbers for the Lakers, the Luka trade continues to look like the worst trade in NBA history. Why Kidd and Nico Harrison wanted to trade Dončić makes no sense whatsoever, but Dončić has moved on and is enjoying life in Los Angeles. He leads the NBA in points and points per game.
The Mavericks have six games left in the regular season. The only thing that matters is Flagg continuing to play well and developing the right way under Kidd. The Duke product is averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.7% from the field, 27.8% from 3 and 81.2% from the free-throw line. He could win the Rookie of the Year Award.
Mavericks Lose to Milwaukee Bucks in First Game Since Cuban’s Comments
The Mavericks lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 31 in their first game since Cuban’s comments.
Dallas trailed Milwaukee 65-51 at halftime. It was an ugly game for Kidd’s group.
“Only being down at halftime by 10, we talked about it against Minnesota — I think we were down 14 and we let the game get away, and the same thing happened tonight in that second half,” Kidd said. “We get a little frustrated because we’ve missed some shots that we normally have made, and we have to be a little bit better on the defensive end. We gave up 20 threes where they attempted 54 of them, so we have to be better there. But I thought early on we were moving the ball. The more that we moved the ball, the better shots we got.”
The Mavericks are 24-52. They are in 13th place in the Western Conference standings.
Up next for Dallas is a game against the Orlando Magic on April 3. And then on April 5, they will host Dončić and the Lakers.
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