The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks: Predicting who makes the regular season roster

By Sean Bush

DALLAS - APRIL 21: Fans of the Dallas Mavericks show their team Spirit during the game against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center on April 21, 2003 in Dalls, Texas. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 102-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS - APRIL 21: Fans of the Dallas Mavericks show their team Spirit during the game against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center on April 21, 2003 in Dalls, Texas. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 102-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Dallas Mavericks Center Salah Mejri (50) reacts to a call during an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers on February 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Dallas Mavericks Center Salah Mejri (50) reacts to a call during an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers on February 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The familiar faces

These are the players who have been on the team at least one season. They have the inside track on retaining their spots, but they’ll have to hold off the newcomers and each other.

Salah Mejri

Salah Mejri might have the toughest time of these three returnees to retain a spot. He’s the oldest at 32. Mejri also averaged the least amount of minutes, and is caught behind a logjam of center minutes with Jordan, Dirk, Powell, potentially Kleber, and maybe Spalding if he can earn some playing time as a rookie.

One thing Mejri does have going for him? He is a former teammate of Luka Dončić. The team might keep Mejri around, so Dončić has someone who had a similar transition experience and who he is already comfortable with on a personal level.

Must Read. Mavs made the right move with DeAndre Jordan

Maxi Kleber

Last year was the German big man’s first year with Dallas. Maxi Kleber had an up and down season but flashed some great defense, rebounding, and an understanding of what Carlisle wants his guys to do. Similar to Dwight Powell, he has a very inconsistent jumper that if he could unlock, would take his game to the next level.

Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith was hurt much of last year which might have hurt his development a bit. He is still a lengthy wing with great defensive versatility. DFS remains a major work and process on offense, but the team’s lack of wing depth should play to Finney-Smith’s favor.

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