It’s pretty safe to say that the Dallas Mavericks have done an outstanding job of staying competitive in the post-Dirk Nowitzki era. Right now, they have one of the brightest futures in the league and they continue to be a well-run organization that’ll draw a lot of interest from top-notch free agents in a couple of years.
The Mavericks went all-in on their young European duo and it definitely paid off. They made the playoffs and put on a big fight vs. the Los Angeles Clippers despite being banged up and undermanned, and they’re only going to get better with time.
Now, they’ve even added a couple of solid defenders to an already promising roster, and it’s only a matter of time before they start contending for a ring. Today, we’re going to break down their roster and show you how their starting lineup will look like in 2020-21.
Bench: Jalen Brunson, Trey Burke, Tyrell Terry, J.J. Barea, Josh Green, Courtney Lee, Antonius Cleveland, Wesley Iwundu, Dorian Finney-Smith, Tyler Bey, Freddie Gillespie, Devonte Patterson, Maxi Kleber, James Johnson, Dwight Powell, Boban Marjanovic
Point Guard: Luka Doncic
While Luka Doncic isn’t your average point guard, there’s absolutely no doubt that he’s more than capable of running an offense at a high level. That combination of playmakingm size, skill, and shooting is what has made him draw comparisons to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Doncic is one of the new faces of the league and he’s just getting started. The fact that he’s that special and dominant already and he’s yet to scratch the surface of his potential is hope enough for Mavericks fans all over the world and terrible news for the rest of the West.
Shooting Guard: Josh Richardson
The Dallas Mavericks knew that they needed some tough competitors next to Luka Doncic. They needed some guys that could put their bodies on the line on every single possession and play their hearts off on the defensive end. That’s why they got Josh Richardson.
Richardson is one of the best and most versatile backcourt stoppers in the league. He’s got the size, length, and strength to match up vs. both guards spots and even some small forwards, and he continues to improve as a three-point shooter as well.
Small Forward: Tim Hardaway Jr
Even though he doesn’t get enough credit for his contributions, Tim Hardaway Jr has already cemented himself as a huge part of the Dallas Mavericks’ core. His three-point shooting, athleticism, and ability to play defense made him a must-start player for Rick Carlisle.
Tim Hardaway Jr has always been a streaky scorer but that’s not bad news at all. If anything, the Mavericks don’t need him to carry the load on offense with Porzingis and Doncic in town, so any unexpected extra contribution for him would be quite welcome.
Power Forward: Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis should be ready to go and back at full strength for the start of next season. He made sure to silence his doubters and those who believed that he wouldn’t fit next to Luka Doncic and is now ready to be even better on their second year together.
Porzingis has the shooting skills of a guard and the length of a big man. He knows how to use his body on defense, and even though he should be a better rebounder given his size, he’s already a bona fide player on both ends of the floor. More importantly, he embraced his role as the team’s second scorer.
Center: Willie Cauley-Stein
The Dallas Mavericks have plenty of choices for their starting center for next season. But, as of now, it seems like Willie Cauley-Stein will get the nod over Maxi Kleber and the injured Dwight Powell, although that could all change depending on matchups.
Boban Marjanovic is also expected to get some minutes every now and then, so Willie Cauley-Stein will have to make the most of his playing time to prove that he can still be a starter in this league. When healthy and locked in, he’s a solid rebounder and a great rim protector and his presence will allow Porzingis to stay in the perimeter.
Next
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Atlanta Hawks
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Boston Celtics
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Brooklyn Nets
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Charlotte Hornets
