5 Dark horse candidates to eventually break into Mavericks' starting lineup

The Dallas Mavericks have been very busy this offseason.

Since their loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the team has adjusted their defensive capabilities and outside shooting.

Some moves for instance, like signing Spencer Dinwiddie might have some heads scratching as to who the Mavericks might give up during the season if things were to go south or if they need to make an upgrade at the trade deadline.

5 Dark horse candidates to eventually break into Mavericks' starting lineup

The question remains: what kind of lineups will we see from the Mavs next season?

Injuries hurt the Mavericks for much of last season. This would force them to try different lineups throughout the season and play with different combinations.

While Daniel Gafford saw the starting lineup after getting traded, his minutes were eventually taken by rookie Dereck Lively II within the first four minutes of the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavs ran a platoon at center, with both players exemplifying why they should be starting.

Differrent starting lineups will be used, and adjustments will be made accordingly by Jason Kidd.

5. Naji Marshall

Naji Marshall has been arguably seen as the new enforcer for the team. He's someone who can step up as a bruiser. He's comparable to Derrick Jones Jr. with his similar skill set.

Marshall is someone who could take a starting spot if superstars Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving are down with injuries, or even Klay Thompson. Even though Doncic plays the one position, both Doncic and Irving can play the point guard if necessary.

Marshall could play alongside Thompson with plenty of frontcourt depth for the Mavs.

There would be plenty of guard scoring depth for the Mavericks, so that wouldn't be an issue for Marshall's spot in a starting lineup.

Someone who's an old-school, hard-nosed basketball player still has a spot in the starting lineup. Marshall is easily a likable guy on any team who will step up and get into the face of an opponent when he needs to.

Derrick Jones Jr. had a solid starting spot with Dallas where he made an NBA Finals appearance. Marshall is the perfect role player who can serve as a player and an enforcer.

The scenario for Marshall would be coming onto the lineup if an injury were to take place or if Thompson's defense is strugglesome. But nonetheless, he's an underrated, valuable asset that will help the team hopefully for years to come.

4. Quentin Grimes

Quentin Grimes is a young player who has a bright future in the NBA.

His career high in points came two seasons ago in New York when he averaged 11.3 points per game in the 2022-23 season.

Grimes is someone who will be a young face to Klay Thompson. Grimes will more than likely play the two or three position. Whenever Klay Thompson is off his game, Grimes can make his case to be in the starting lineup.

This can be helpful if Thompson has a bad stretch like he once did last season when he came off the bench for Golden State. However, so far, he's proved the doubters wrong.

Grimes is a weapon that any bench in the NBA would love. While he saw very limited time during his short tenure in Detroit, he looks to be a solid asset where he can be capable of shooting outside shots at a very high clip. In his career year in New York, he shot 38.6 percent from downtown.

Grimes is familiar with being a full-time member in a starting lineup. He started 66 of 71 games during his time in New York in the 2022-23 season. It's possible he can get hot in a blink. If he does that, it would be tough for the coaching staff to deny him a spot in the starting lineup.

Grimes will have to be someone who will be looked at as a guy to play the three as well, but if Thompson is off his game, Grimes will likely be looked at to serve as a starting role.

His defense is also outstanding, and he will likely play a big role right away.

3. Dereck Lively II

The young man from Duke showed strides to getting better throughout the year and now his time to shine his now.

Dereck Lively II was speculated to become a starter for the Mavs already, and that could lead them to even brighter places next season.

Lively II would come in quickly off the bench for Daniel Gafford in the playoffs. This led to the question of Lively II starting in the near future. He showed strides of being a tenacious rebounder and emphatic shot blocker.

His pick-and-roll game was used beautifully with Luka Doncic, leading to a potential deadly one-two punch in future seasons.

Lively II has more of a mobile body than Gafford which might have an advantage for Lively II to start over Gafford.

Lively II was drafted as someone who could take the job as starting center. After last season, he has a strong argument for taking over Gafford's spot in the starting five.

His leadership was also noticed throughout the year, when he subtly told his superstar to not complain as much to the officials during the playoffs.

Lively II's character is already beloved around the Dallas area. His hardships last season have gotten through to Mavs fans.

He wasn't supposed to be this great, at least, not this early, but he is. It wouldn't be surprising if we see Lively II get the starting nod on opening night and his ceiling is clearly higher than Gafford's.

2. Daniel Gafford

This is familiar territory for Daniel Gafford.

The trades for the Mavs to acquire Gafford and P.J. Washington to address their defensive issues might've been the best moves for them last season.

Gafford has arguably been the best energizer for the Mavs. Gafford is someone who's played his role about as good as a coach can ask. He's a defensive anchor who's as automatic as anybody when he gets a touch underneath the rim.

Let's not forget about the time when he was an offensive beast. Gafford went on a historic offensive run last season, trailing only one of the greatest NBA players of all-time in one column.

Gafford presents himself as one of the best shot blockers in the league, especially during his tenure with Washington. He averaged fifth in blocks in the NBA last season with 1.5. His high intensity is good for the team, especially when the team needed more reliable defensive big men to grab rebounds.

Gafford is also a good teammate when it comes to his attitude. He's expressed his support for his younger teammate, Lively II after a game where Lively II and Gafford combined for 20-21 from the field after a blowout victory against Chicago.

Gafford is someone who has proven he can start in a Jason Kidd lineup. Even if Kidd was favoring playing Lively II more in the postseason, Gafford has done everything that Mavs fans could've asked and then some.

After averaging 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds, Gafford would usually get the starting nod in the blink of an eye, but the Mavericks have a good problem right now. Assuming Lively II gets the start on opening night, Gafford is someone who can step in and dominate on both sides of the ball when he needs to.

Gafford has proven he can start on a full-time basis, but perhaps the coaching staff wants Lively II to grow in his sophomore campaign. This could be similar to a quarterback controversy moving forward, but Gafford is more than ready to step up if the big man from Duke were to go down with an injury.

Both players are accepting of whatever role Kidd gives them, and they have a great relationship as teammates.

1. Spencer Dinwiddie

The Mavericks are in a very good spot with multiple options, and what more than a comfort feeling knowing a former Maverick is coming back to deliver more.

During Spencer Dinwiddie's first tenure with Dallas, he was a reliable second or third scorer next to Doncic. He was an important piece when the Mavericks went to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.

Dinwiddie saw some of his best career numbers in a Maverick uniform, averaging 17.7 points in the 2022-23 season. He shot the ball at a pretty high clip, shooting 40.5 percent from beyond the arc.

His minutes in his first tenure showed he was badly needed in Dallas, averaging 34.1 minutes per game in the 2022-23 season. Those minutes will likely trickle down due to increased depth at the guard position now, but his production will still be needed as much as his first tenure.

Dinwiddie is a player more than capable of hitting tough shots at a high rate. He's shooting will be needed if Klay Thompson is in a slump just like he was for some of his last season with Golden State. Dinwiddie is 31 years old and in what could still be called the prime of his own career.

He has familiarity starting with Doncic. His experience gives him an edge to be a dark horse to start. Dinwiddie could help take the pressure off Doncic by making the most of his minutes while Doncic is off the floor. Doncic was hurting badly at the end of the year due to multiple injuries that hindered his playoff performances.

Considering if Doncic is injured, or if the training staff wants to be conservative and rest him, Dinwiddie is more than qualified to start with Kyrie Irving, Thompson, P.J. Washington and DerecckLively II.

For more on the Mavs this offseason, stay tuned.