Should Maxi Kleber be in the Mavericks starting 5?

Should Maxi Kleber be in the Dallas Mavericks starting five?

The Mavs need to make a change to their starting five, and Maxi Kleber is the obvious answer to replace Dwight Powell if head coach Jason Kidd wants Kristaps Porzingis to be able to play the four. Willie Cauley-Stein and Boban Marjanovic are worse options than Dwight Powell to start, but Kleber helps the Mavericks space the floor, and his defensive versatility boosts any unit.

Dallas has played extremely well when pairing KP and Maxi in the frontcourt. Last season, they had an 8.1 net rating over 524 minutes on the floor together, according to NBA Stats. The Mavs defense has been outstanding with the duo on the floor so far this year in a limited sample of just 33 minutes as both men have missed time.

The Dallas Mavericks can start Maxi Kleber and keep his minutes under 28. He is likely to be replaced by Jalen Brunson in the team’s closing lineup, so that alone will knock a few off. Kleber is the team’s best option as the fifth starter right now, and they should make the change to see if the starting lineup’s play improves with the 6’10 big man next to KP in the frontcourt.

The Mavs starting lineup is something to watch when superstar Luka Doncic returns from injury. He is close to being back, and the team must make a change in the group, so stay tuned.