Mavericks' controversial training camp dream is already painfully obvious

When the Dallas Mavericks traded away Luka Doncic on February 1 for Anthony Davis and Max Christie, it was a clear sign to the league that the Mavericks are ready to commit to size and defense. With Davis playing in Dallas, it gave him the perfect opportunity to play alongside centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, but due to multiple injuries, the Mavericks' jumbo lineup would quickly disappear into a dream.

While Lively II, Gafford, and Davis would eventually return fully healthy by the end of the regular season, it wouldn't make a difference, and fans are still wondering what Dallas' jumbo lineup might look like. Now, with Cooper Flagg on the roster, the Mavericks are adding even more size to their starting lineup and defensive depth to their forward positions.

It might all just be speculation as to what the Mavericks' jumbo five-man unit could look like on an NBA floor together, but as training camp quickly approaches, fans will finally get their wish. The Mavericks will be focused on other players and who can potentially earn the team's final two-way roster spot, but all eyes will be on the fit around the Mavericks' big unit, and if size can really be relied upon in Dallas.

All eyes will quickly be on Dallas' jumbo lineup

When trading for Davis, the Mavericks understood that they were creating a monster frontcourt that would last them the next few seasons. They would not only instantly become one of the biggest teams, but after drafting Flagg, the Mavericks are now all in on size.

While many fans have their concerns considering the league has developed into an offense-first mindset, the Mavericks will be breaking barriers by committing to defense within their starting unit. Even if Klay Thompson still starts, the Mavericks will have plenty of shooting concerns, which could derail the jumbo lineup experiment, but Jason Kidd and the Mavericks' coaching staff must keep a close eye on what works and what doesn't work during training camp.

Even still, with the offensive question marks that a lineup with potentially the smallest player being D'Angelo Russell or Thompson, the defensive upside could be too much. Many fans are already concerned that, due to their size, the Mavericks may be a slower team, but if Davis and Lively II or Gafford continue to prove that they are dominant forces in the paint, the Mavericks' ceiling could rise dramatically.

Although it goes without saying, during Dallas' early training camp practices, one of the biggest question marks will be whether size can work in today's NBA. Flagg will need to be an offensive force with either spacing the floor or drawing attention to himself for Dallas' jumbo offense to have any chance at working, but the Mavericks will be under a microscope during their preseason games.

In today's NBA, size has traditionally not worked, but the Mavericks are one of the first teams to fully commit to a two-big lineup despite what the norm has become. Not only are two-big lineups becoming more popular due to the Mavericks, but Dallas has the opportunity to step up their size even more if they introduce P.J. Washington into the starting lineup.

Dallas' jumbo lineup experiment could make or break this era of Mavericks basketball, but it will all start during training camp this month. The Mavericks will be under a fine microscope all season, and if their jumbo lineup begins to work, some teams could choose to hop on the bandwagon.