Dallas Mavericks: 5 goals for Luka Doncic’s rookie season

3. Earn a starting role

The Dallas Mavericks fell victim to a verbal agreement falling apart with Yogi Ferrell recently, as he later decided to chase big money with the Sacramento Kings. Still, as currently constructed, the Mavericks’ depth chart at guards runs deep.

Leading the way is the oft-injured Wesley Matthews, who can play either wing spot. There’s also veteran point guard J.J. Barea, fellow rookie point guard Jalen Brunson, and sophomore starter Dennis Smith Jr. Rick Carlisle would most likely start the season having a competition for the starting shooting guard position, giving his veterans first chance to seize their role while DSJ reprises his starting role.

As mentioned, Doncic is no ordinary rookie, with over 2,000 minutes of experience in a professional setting. He is a surefire bet to be knocking on the door for a starting position. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him starting next to Smith, seeing as how Barea is 34 years old and is better suited being a leader of the bench unit.

The better question is to ask who would be better suited playing off ball with Doncic and Smith in the same backcourt. As previously mentioned, Doncic’s long range shooting isn’t ready for NBA standards, but his elite passing skills would benefit the team as the main facilitator in the backcourt.

Smith’s shooting was below league-average at a 31.3 percent from 3 last year, but he has developed the skills of a great shot creator, averaging 15.2 points per game. Smith developing his shooting in year two is to be expected.

Doncic has a high basketball IQ, vision, elite passing, and experience to do something similar to what Ben Simmons did for the Philadelphia 76ers last year in his Rookie of the Year campaign. Simmons used his playmaking ability, interior game, physical strength and size for the point guard position to create advantages on both ends of the floor and succeeded in marginalizing his lack of outside shooting.