The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

Dallas Mavericks: Ranking the projected starting centers across the NBA

By Kohl 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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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

20. Ivica Zubac – LAC

Ivica Zubac is one of those players that is very quietly effective and you sometimes overlook his contribution to the game. He is another player that is very unassuming on the court, but in reality he is doing a lot of really good things. Admittedly, I haven’t seen Zubac play enough to get a really confident read on him, but from what I have heard and what I have seen, he could be ready to take a big step forward in his game.

Zubac is only 22 years old and still has a lot of time to grow into the player he wants to become. Coming into the league at the best time in NBA history to be from a foreign country, the young man from Bosnia and Herzegovina is looking to join the ranks of some of the greats in the league now like Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic and fellow countryman, Jusuf Nurkic.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers attends the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 11, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers attends the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 11, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

19. Hassan Whiteside – POR

We aren’t that far removed from when Hassan Whiteside was widely considered a top 10 center in the league and the next big shot blocker that could dissuade anyone from stepping foot in the lane. Unfortunately, the last couple years have been less than stellar as Whiteside’s effort has been called into question and his numbers have dropped significantly.

Whiteside is getting older, but he is still far from old. There is no reason to believe that he couldn’t find his way back to maybe 80% of his peak in the coming years, especially with a new setting out in front of him in Portland. Even though Whiteside is just starting until Nurkic is healthy again, he still has a lot of potential.

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