4 Dallas Mavericks who have surprisingly been bench warmers this season

The Dallas Mavericks are off to an elite start as they are sitting at 8-2 after Sunday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and there's plenty to be happy about if you're a Mavs fan.

Dereck Lively II has been everything Dallas needed in a big man and more, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are proving they are one of the best duos in the NBA, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is playing excellently off the bench and looks like he could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.

The team is gelling like they never have before, and head coach Jason Kidd is coaching much better than he did last year. His rotation decisions are much better and consistent, and he seems to have already have a great feel for the new-look team.

4 Dallas Mavericks who have surprisingly been bench warmers this season

He also knows what it takes to win.

All signs are pointing to the Mavs having a successful season, but there is still plenty of basketball to be played.

Although many of the Mavericks are playing at a high level, there are some who have much smaller roles than expected.

Here are four Dallas Mavericks players that have surprisingly been bench warmers this season.

4. Richaun Holmes

The excitement from the fanbase on draft night after the team traded for Richaun Holmes was high.

Dallas traded a traded player exception for Holmes and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and it seemed like Holmes was going to have a chance to play big minutes for this squad. Despite Mark Cuban calling him one of the "most underrated pickup(s) of the summer," Holmes has struggled to crack the rotation.

He has only appeared in two games this season, and he didn't make much of an impact in either game.

Holmes averages 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in just 5.5 minutes per game for the Mavs. It doesn't look like Holmes will be a rotation piece anytime soon, and he could be someone to keep an eye on at the trade deadline as Dallas rumoredly included him in some draft night trade talks for Deandre Ayton.

Holmes could see some minutes now that Maxi Kleber is out for an extended period of time but don't expect him to be an everyday player.