There were a lot of big changes in Dallas this offseason. The Nonconformists team coming off a finals appearance, many of whom had flown under the national radar – then of course there was the signing of Golden State Warriors legend Klay Thompsonwhich made national headlines (although not all reactions were positive).

These additions, along with the loss of the starting winger Derrick Jones Jr. At The Los Angeles Clippersmeans there are definite changes on the way to Dallas’ starting lineup next season, although those details have yet to be made official by the coaching staff or the media.

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It is easy to identify a few incumbents by looking at the list. The most obvious ones are Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irvingwho will once again be arguably the best backcourt in the NBA, and most importantly, arguably the best one-on-one guard duo in the league. They will fill the power forward and shooting guard positions as they did last year, with backups Spencer Dinwiddie And Dante Exum there to maintain the second unit.

The wing position gets a little trickier, as there is a seemingly obvious answer, but also an outsider. The aforementioned Klay Thompson will likely start at wing, but an additional signing Naji Marshall he could also play high-level rotation minutes given his defensive ability. Quentin Grimes will also have something to say here, although he is perhaps more suited to playing fullback than winger.

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Both are more skilled defenders at this stage of their careers than Thompson, but Thompson’s ability to shoot and screen Doncic and Irving makes him a solid bet to fill the starting role. Trade deadline acquisition PJ Washington He will almost certainly start at power forward, as his ability to pick and pop the perimeter makes him an NBA-caliber player at the four.

The big question will be who will start in the central position. Daniel Gaffordthe fifth-year pro who led the league in field goal percentage last season, or the 2023 NBA first-round pick Derek Lively IIwhose growing versatility makes him a truly special prospect.

Either player would be a winner, and both will likely play starting-level minutes. The problem is that the two can’t share the court at the same time due to a lack of perimeter skills from both players. They are both true centers and will have to operate separately, which explains the controversy over who will play the starting role. Early indications, however, suggest that Lively will get the initial nod.

Overall, the Mavericks are in an advantageous position with several players who could be starters on other NBA teams. It’s a good problem to have, and hopefully the embarrassment of choice will lead to continued success.

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