Mavericks' biggest test of 2024-25 season will come early and often

The Dallas Mavericks already have a giant challenge heading into the 2024-25 season.

It won't be an easy division this season, in fact, it could arguably be the toughest in basketball.

While divisions in basketball are relatively unimportant, Dallas is going to play these teams as much as anyone and most of these teams will pose a big challenge to the Mavericks that has seemingly gone unnoticed heading into the season.

Matchups against bigger centers will test Mavericks this season

All the Zach Edey haters are starting to take back their words now.

Edey was cooking against veteran center Myles Turner while coming off the bench this preseason. In 19 minutes, Edey had 23 points and nine rebounds. He depended on that hook shot which has vastly improved. While NBA general managers might've been concerned about the "traditional center," we're seeing now that Edey has the last laugh.

With a healthy Memphis roster, with seeing firsthand what Edey and Jackson Jr. can do, it seems Dallas will have a lot on their hands, and they play Memphis for the first time on December 3.

That won't be the only challenge though.

Of course, Victor Wembanyama is expected to take an even bigger leap from his already impressive rookie campaign. The Mavericks will get to see the Grizzlies and Spurs early in the season (with their matchup against the Spurs being their first game). This will get the Mavericks to showcase their continuing Western Conference dominance on national television.

One thing Mavs fans need to look forward to is the way Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II slowed down Wembanyama last season. Even P.J. Washington matched up well against him, forcing up some of Wemby's worst performances when playing against the Mavs.

The Mavs had matched Wemby with physicality and therefore was uncomfortable making his own offense. There's only one difference between Wemby and Edey, however.

Edey has a much bigger weight advantage. The Mavs might have to match up more with Gafford rather than Lively II against Edey and depend on matching Edey's physicality down low.

Another future All-Star is in the making in the division too.

That's Alperen Sengun. He will be looked at as a primer scorer. As someone who looks slower than some NBA guys, the Mavericks might actually use that to exploit a weakness.

The Mavs' big men are much faster at keeping up with someone like Sengun. They'll have to force Sengun to make long-range shots.

While the Oklahoma City Thunder are not in the division, they'll have another playoff foe to think about during the season, too.

The signing of Isaiah Hartenstein will be a forming of twin towers in OKC that the Mavericks will have to deal with. There was much discussion about OKC being too small. Since Luka Doncic was able to dominate against Lu Dort, one of the most respectable defenders in the league, the Thunder had to make some changes.

Gafford and Lively II will be tested this season, but they will be ready for action.