For a team that doesn't have postseason aspirations next season, the Dallas Mavericks are surprisingly deep and talented. They don't have the most balanced roster, since they are significantly more crowded in the frontcourt than the backcourt. They also have major weaknesses like shooting and playmaking outside of Kyrie Irving, as well as injury concerns for a couple of key players, including Irving and Dereck Lively.
When this team is fully healthy, however, finding enough minutes for everyone will be a challenge for Dusty May. By the trade deadline, the Mavs may move on from some of their veterans for trade value, like P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Until then, however, they will be on the roster and in the rotation.
There may be changes between now and the start of the season, but let's project what the Mavs' starters and rotation will look like on opening night.
Projected Mavericks starters and backups to start the season
Starters: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford
Rotation Minutes: Marcus Sasser, Dereck Lively, Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., Zaccharie Risacher
Emergency Backups: Sergio De Larrea, Tarik Biberovic, Caleb Martin, Moussa Cisse
As you can see, this is an 11-man rotation. Very few teams, if any, deploy an 11-man rotation on a nightly basis. This doesn't even include talented rookies like De Larrea and Biberovic, whom the Mavs want to give a chance.
Obviously, it's unclear whether all 11 of these players will be healthy to start the season. In fact, Lively is unlikely to be ready for the first game. There may be more injuries in training camp and preseason.
This will generally be the case throughout the season. There will be injuries and absences. Everyone on the 15-man roster will get a chance.
Training camp and preseason performances could change this rotation.
Christie is not a lock to start, but as the only natural shooting guard on the team and one of the best shooters on the roster, he makes the most sense as the fifth starter.
Sasser has a chance to climb up or fall further down in the depth chart. He could very well lose his spot in the rotation to De Larrea, but he could also start next to Irving or take his starting spot whenever he is unavailable. The Mavs need more shooting and playmaking, and he can certainly provide that.
Rookie Morez Johnson Jr. may eventually take over as the starter, either from Gafford or Washington. As the season progresses, one has to assume that younger players will start playing more than the veterans. We can also see Biberovic and Cisse take on expanded roles over the likes of Caleb Martin and Naji Marshall.
Not mentioned here so far is Klay Thompson. The veteran sharpshooter is still on the roster, but he is the most likely departure candidate between now and the start of the season. The 36-year-old is on an expiring $17.4 million contract. If Dallas can find someone to take him, we could see a trade involving Klay. Otherwise, a contract buyout may be looming before the season.
This looks like the likely group, but there are still questions because May can turn this into a large rotation.
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