The Dallas Mavericks have one more preseason game left and still need to decide on their starting lineup after returning from a 12-day, multi-continent foreign preseason vacation.
Grant Williams, Kyrie Irving, and Luka Doncic were the Mavs’ three confirmed starters going into training camp.Dereck Lively II, a rookie, is most likely going to open the season as the starting five. It is unclear who will go first in the wing to finish the group.
Coach Jason Kidd stated that while Lively has done “everything” to start, Olivier-Maxence Prosper will start the season off the bench following the Mavs’ preseason loss to Real Madrid in Spain.
“Look at what Lively has done here on this trip. He’s doing extremely well starting with the starters,” Kidd said. “He’s doing everything to start. We’re probably going to bring O-Max off the bench if the season was to start tomorrow.”
Josh Green has only played a supporting role in the Mavs’ three preseason games; he was benched in their second game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Green is still a possibility, but the coaching staff needs to think beyond the box to consider other possibilities.
Before playing the Detroit Pistons on Friday in the preseason finale, the Mavs plan to try out a few lineup combinations. As he recovers from a left calf strain, Luka Doncic has already been ruled out, leaving plenty of room for experimentation.
“We’re going to continue to look at some different combinations because of health, and we’ll see which one we’ll use for opening night,” Kidd said after Monday’s practice. “We probably look at Friday, rolling out some different guys starting, and we’ll go from there.”
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Derrick Jones Jr. is one of the players “in contention” to start after earning a spot in the starting lineup, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Kidd complimented both of the veteran rookies and preseason standout Dante Exum for their contributions both on and off the court, calling their game knowledge “extremely helpful.”
“They’ve been great for newcomers, both on and off the floor,” Kidd said of Dante Exum and Jones. “Off the floor with their teammates, interaction has been high, and then on the floor — their length and understanding of how to play the game has been very helpful. They’ve had a great camp up to this point.”
Deploying Jones next to Lively, who frequently plays in the paint, may limit his space, which is one obvious issue with Jones as a starter. Kidd expressed confidence in Jones’ potential to perform as a rim roller and praised his current standing as a competent 3-point shooter. He recently finished a season in which he shot a career-high 33.8 percent from outside the arc while attempting 1.3 shots per contest. Including postseason action, he has shot 168-551 (30.5%) from beyond the arc in his career.
The defensive adaptability Jones offers the defense is the first advantage the Mavs enjoy from his usage. With a wingspan of seven feet and a height of six feet, he is a powerful defender with the ability to switch and offer variety off the ball. He can also run the floor with some danger.
“I think when you look at Derrick, he can be in the pick and roll. He can roll and shoot the three,’ Kidd said of how Jones fits with Lively. “He’s capable from the three-point line, but he understands how to play, then just the versatility to switch and athleticism. That’s something that we haven’t had. He definitely helps.”
Lively’s long-term potential as a perimeter shooter has been well noted since his impressive showcase from deep at his Klutch Sports Group Pro Day during the pre-process. However, it’s unlikely to be integrated into his NBA repertoire at the start of his NBA career. As a result, Jones’ willingness to let it fly from deep will be almost as important as his consistency in knocking those shots down.
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