Mavericks' best starting lineup for next season isn't their smartest one

When fully healthy, the Dallas Mavericks' best starting lineup for next season seems like it's Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. Irving and Flagg are obviously the star players, Christie gives them shooting and upside as they build for the future, Washington brings versatility, toughness, and leadership, and Lively II is the defensive anchor down low who can guard multiple positions, finish in the pick-and-roll, and rebound.

Dereck Lively II shouldn't be the Mavericks' starting center every game

This seems like the perfect group to kick off the Dusty May era, but it isn't the smartest starting five by any means. The Mavericks should keep their 1-4 spots the same as listed above. Irving should start at point guard, Christie at the two, and Flagg and Washington on the wing. While Lively II is the best center on the team, and has the potential to become one of Dallas' foundational pieces, May shouldn't start him for all of next season.

Dallas used this formula when they reached the NBA Finals

This all comes down to his injuries, and the smartest play for May would be to bring Lively II off the bench behind Daniel Gafford. This is the formula that Dallas used in their run to the 2024 NBA Finals. Even though Lively II was the more impactful center, Jason Kidd started Gafford during that playoff run.

This allowed Gafford to set the tone with his physicality and Kidd would later bring in Lively II. It also allowed Lively II to avoid early foul trouble and play more in high-leverage situations.

While both of these reasons worked for Kidd in Dallas when he helped lead the team to their third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, these reasons are no longer why the Mavs should explore bringing Lively II off the bench.

The Mavericks must preserve Lively II's health

His health has become increasingly concerning over the last two seasons, as injuries have been piling up. He only played 43 games during his second and third seasons due to various injuries, and Dallas has to do whatever it takes to keep him healthy moving forward.

His age, upside, and two-way ability make him someone who would fit extremely well with Flagg, Max Christie, and Morez Johnson Jr. for the future, but they have to keep him healthy first. Lively II can't impact the game with his energy, verticality, shot-blocking, and defensive versatility from the sidelines, and bringing him off the bench behind Gafford or Johnson Jr. may quietly be a good option to keep him healthier.

Why bringing Lively II off the bench would help him

There's a good chance that Lively II begins the season on a minutes restriction, as he is still recovering from foot surgery that he underwent in December of last year, meaning he'll likely come off the bench once he's ready to play anyway. May will be able to play him in short spurts, help him improve his conditioning, and use him in favorable matchups. This will help him gain confidence and get his legs back underneath him, but it will also help him stay out of harm's way.

As a bench player, Lively II would be able to ease into things, and May and the medical team would be able to customize a return plan that ensures he isn't putting too much pressure on that right foot. It would also allow for him to be fresh while Gafford or Johnson Jr. is resting, and he could keep the high energy that the starting unit provided going.

Dallas will have strong center play at all times next season when they're fully healthy with Lively II, Gafford, Johnson Jr., and Moussa Cisse, and they should be strategic and overly cautious with their starting unit. While Lively II is the team's best option and has the most potential, they should make the smart decision of bringing him off the bench and limiting his minutes to preserve his long-term health.

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