The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks: Ranking the projected starting centers across the NBA

ByKohl Rast|
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 3: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks makes his entrance before the game before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 3: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks makes his entrance before the game before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
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DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 23: Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets takes the ball to the basket against Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter during Game Five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 23, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 23: Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets takes the ball to the basket against Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter during Game Five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 23, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

26. Jakob Poeltl – SAS

Jakob Poeltl was a part of the trade that send DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, but many people have forgotten that due to his very unassuming style of play. The thing is, that is the perfect style of play to be effective in Gregg Popovich’s system.

Poeltl is not going to be a big scorer or really a statistically impressive player any time soon. What he does doesn’t really show on the stat sheet and that is alright. He is only 23 years old and is still expected to grow into a bigger role, but for now he is a great complementary player that is not doing too much or too little at any point. He is ranked 26th largely because of the system he plays in.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 08: Willie Cauley-Stein (L) talks with Rudy Gay (R) during a game at NBA Summer League on July 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 08: Willie Cauley-Stein (L) talks with Rudy Gay (R) during a game at NBA Summer League on July 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)

25. Willie Cauley-Stein – GSW

I have never been a believer in Willie Cauley-Stein and I don’t think he has ever given me any reason to believe in him, but he is further up on this list than I expected thanks to his new home and his new teammates. WCS has moved on from his mostly disappointing time with the Sacramento Kings and now joins Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors.

This is a nice fit for both parties as Cauley-Stein represents an impressive threat above the rim which is something that the Warriors are particularly good at exploiting. It may not be as good this year as in year’s past, but this is still a great fit for Willie Cauley-Stein and I’m sure Steph is excited to get some lobs up to the big man.

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