Mavericks' nonstop injury curse throws wrench into starting lineup war

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford injured his ankle during the team's first day of training camp in Vancouver, and he is expected to miss 2-3 weeks, according to head coach Jason Kidd. Dallas' season opener against the San Antonio Spurs is just under three weeks away, as it's on October 22 at the American Airlines Center, and Gafford's untimely injury could've just guaranteed Dereck Lively II to be the starter to begin the year.

During Media Day on Monday, Kidd made it clear that there are some spots in the starting lineup that are safe, and others that are up for grabs. Kidd is known for encouraging competition right before camp, and the battles for positioning across the board were bound to create an extremely competitive environment for the duration of training camp.

The center position was one spot that fans assumed was up for grabs, as there is seemingly always a debate about who should start between Lively II and Gafford, and this injury just put Lively II in the perfect spot to prove that he deserves to be the starting center now and in the future.

Daniel Gafford's injury may ruin his chance to start

While Gafford was the team's starting center throughout their run to the 2024 NBA Finals, Lively II makes much more sense as the long-term starter considering his youth, star potential, versatility, and defense. He won Mavericks fans' hearts over from the minute he stepped onto the floor as a rookie, and he seems like he will be a franchise cornerstone for years to come alongside Cooper Flagg.

This isn't to say that Gafford isn't an excellent player, as he is a stout rim protector and excellent finisher around the rim, but Lively II is six years younger than him and has the potential to be a star in this league one day.

Lively II has showcased his potential throughout his first two seasons in the NBA, and if he can stay healthy this season, the sky is the limit. During Media Day, he teased beginning to shoot threes, which has been a major talking point ever since he began his career, and this would be a game-changer as he looks to expand his game.

Lively II, being a consistent floor spacer who commands the respect of the defense, would allow the Mavs to play five-out, and he'd go from a rim roller to someone who the Mavs can rely on to let it fly from deep and open up the floor for everyone else. 3-point shooting is something that Lively II seems to be close to adding to his game, while Gafford is not, and the next few weeks will be Lively II's chance to run away with the starting center role.

Gafford could still return in time to ramp up his activity ahead of the season opener and win the starting job, especially if Kidd was already leaning his way before training camp began, but it seems most likely that Lively II will start opening night. He'll have multiple weeks to work with the other guaranteed starters, which is plenty of time to gain chemistry with one another, and Gafford will unfortunately be sidelined for this time.

Time will tell if Kidd rolls with Gafford or Lively II for the first game of the season, but fans may have just missed out getting to witness an all-out starting lineup battle during the preseason.