Jason Kidd has plenty of pieces to play and tinker with, and that’s a good problem.
The focus for the Dallas Mavericks this summer was on the acquisition of Klay Thompson — a move that already has produced positive results. But Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison also did work to balance out and improve the depth off the bench. While the team exploded post All-Star break last season and rode a wave all the way to the NBA Finals, it was evident that the team needed more (and stronger) options in reserve. That took shape in trading Josh Green and Tim Hardaway Jr. and letting starting forward Derrick Jones Jr. walk. In their stead they acquired Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Even through just a handful of games this season it is clear Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has more variety at his disposal. Where Jones, Hardaway and Green really slotted into one position and one role only, this new quartet of Mavericks can move around functionally within the jigsaw puzzle. They provide more ball-handling options, defensive versatility, and perhaps an offensive boost as shooters.
But this bench group, along with Jaden Hardy, are still sorting out roles and rhythms, a task that won’t be without its growing pains. We’ve seen it already, particularly in their second game of the season, a 114-102 loss against the Phoenix Suns. Those four, including Dinwiddie who was a “Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision (DNP-CD)” combined for two points, going 1-of-9 from the floor, a minus-10 in 35 minutes.
The Mavericks didn’t have any favors in their ramp up to the regular season. Luka Doncic did not play any preseason games, and the team shuffled rest for several including Kyrie Irving and Thompson. That means that these new additions are not only trying to find their role, but also forming chemistry with the center of the solar system. That disjointedness has reared its ugly head several times already, and left Kidd riding hot hands or pulling levers with short leashes to start the year.
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Marshall, who was seen to many as the under-the-radar splash the Mavs needed to improve in Jones’ absence, has played 21, 16, 15, and 16 minutes. Grimes, a young player with promise on the final year of a contract: 15, 6, 13, and 12 minutes. Dinwiddie didn’t appear until garbage time in the opener, was a DNP against the Suns, then popped for 23 and 18 minutes. While Hardy, the only returning player from last season, has logged 20, 13, 5, and 4 minutes. Kidd’s distribution of minutes between Hardy, Dinwiddie, and Grimes in particular make it clear there’s still uncertainty in who will fulfill which need.
This is all to be expected, and in many ways it’s a good problem to have. Most seasons the Mavericks have one player for each role (at best) and no means of reorganizing when something isn’t working. Already in the young stages of the season we’ve seen Kidd ride Hardy when he was hot against the San Antonio Spurs or Dinwiddie when he erupted against the Utah Jazz. And those two players have familiarity with the system — Hardy returning, and Dinwiddie previously in Dallas in the Mavericks’ 2022 run to the Western Conference Finals.
Kidd’s task is sorting out Grimes and Marshall, both in identifying how they will excel and providing space to grow into roles even through mistakes or rough patches. Some of that took a step forward in the Mavericks’ 120-114 impressive road win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both role players were given some space to feel the game and play through a few mistakes and they paid Kidd back in dividends. Grimes was 3-of-5 from three and Naji Marshall came up with the game-sealing steal and free throws in the waning seconds.
The rotations will develop with the season, along with the chemistry. Kidd is fortunate with the depth to be creative and patient, and we fans should do the same.