In a time of crisis, Nowitzki tells it like it is

If leadership is honesty, then Dirk Nowitzki asserted himself again on Wednesday. After the divorce between Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks and Avery Johnson, several players were asked if Johnson's offense took full advantage of Jason Kidd's abilities.

Nowitzki was the only one to answer bluntly, although he paused -- and I timed this -- a full seven seconds before responding.

"We probably could have opened it up a little more, have a little more free flow, let Jason create and not just make him a weakside spot-up shooter," Nowitzki said. "But you know, Avery had us believing in the system, and that's the way he thought we could be the most efficient -- be the best team we can be, and things just didn't work out."

Dirk wasn't finished, and he was equally blunt when talking about former coach Don Nelson and what he'd like to see in the Mavericks' next coach.

"Obviously we've got to bring a coach in that brings the best out of what he's got here," Nowitzki said. "Open up the offense, have a lot more running, but still a guy who knows how to coach defense. You don't basically want to go back to the Nellie days where we just run and gun and have fun and you get scored on every time down, either. That's obviously not the solution you want."

Nowitzki, however, did not simply blame others. He stated, in a way that seemed sincere yet sounded outrageous to everyone listening, that he's not even sure he'll be back. And he was talking about the possibility of Cuban trading him.

"None of the players are safe, really, as far as I'm concerned," Nowitzki said. "The way we played, we were a first-round exit. I don't know if just a new coach can fix it all. I'm sure there will be some player movements. To me, the way we [played], nobody should be safe. All the players should be worried."

In his own way, Nowitzki summarized the popular notion that has been making the rounds in recent weeks. If this team was not successful in the playoffs, many local deep thinkers suggested that the way to fix the roster would be to "blow it up."

Perhaps it is time for a review. In February, the Mavericks traded 27 percent of their 15-man team and two future No. 1 picks to New Jersey for Kidd. And on Wednesday, they fired their head coach.

From here, it looks like the house has pretty much been vaporized. What else is there to blow up?

You certainly don't start with Nowitzki. His modesty is admirable, but there is no way he should or will be traded. I've heard suggestions that the Mavericks can get at least two players for Dirk, which, no doubt, is true.

Here's the problem: The team that traded those two players would do so understanding those two players combined are not as good as Dirk alone. Forget that.

During the past week, Josh Howard used terrifically bad judgment when talking about using marijuana and by scheduling a birthday party after Johnson instituted a no-party rule during the playoffs. Because of that, his value is at an all-time low. Maybe Cuban is so ticked at Josh that he will trade him, but do you really make your team better by trading for less talent?

The biggest reason to keep at least most of the core group together, however, is because of Kidd. He has one year left on his contract. If you are going to blow up the team to get him, you don't blow it up again without giving him a full training camp to determine if you were correct in trading for him in the first place.

Right now, the Mavericks have a one-year window. Four of their five starters will be 30 or older next year. Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George are also older than 30.

If they keep the core of the team together and they fail, then next summer, Kidd's $21.4 million salary comes off the books and they can aggressively enter the free agent market.

Right now, however, their biggest challenge is to get a coach who will let Jason Kidd be Jason Kidd. At least that is Dirk Nowitzki's opinion. The Mavericks' first-round playoff failure should be enough to convince everyone that he is right.