MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think I would bet money that Lively starts the season as the starter, but to be honest I am more interested in him ramping up the minutes a little more and finishing games rather than who starts.  In time, Lively will need to start.  I think you can get away with it for another year if you desire.    I sort of like having a game changer coming off the bench.  I really don't think it matters who starts if the starter is replaced 4-5 minutes into the game.

There will come a time soon that Lively is one of the top leaders and his status will demand a starting spot.  Maybe that is now.  If not, I don't think Lively is a guy who will let this bother him.  It could be a different story in year 3 though.

I think Kidd will throw us a curveball to start the season whether it is Lively or Thompson.  I'm not a fan of the experimenting he does to start each season but two deep playoff runs the last three seasons says I should shut up and let him do his job.  The investment in depth tells me they may take regular season record more seriously (for seeding purposes), but who knows.

One thing about experimenting (if they continue to do it) is you don't start out with what you plan to finish with.  You start out with something different, try a few things and eventually land on the best thing.  If he starts out with Luka, Irving, Thompson, PJ and Lively for a few weeks and then goes to something else, then it is a demotion for the player who moves to the bench.  But, if he tests out starting Naji or Grimes or Gafford and then moves to the obviously better player then it feels like we spent some time trying things and eventually landed on what everyone knew was the best lineup.

Personally, I'd probably keep bringing Lively off the bench.  I liked your point about having a 'game-changer' off the bench.  I don't think Thompson will be the full time starter here for the entirety of his contract.  But, I suspect he starts to begin the season and either transitions later this season or next season (maybe in conjunction with Lively moving to the starting lineup).  I do think it is easier for Dallas to bring him off the bench than it was for GS to do so.  I could see Naji looking really good as a starter when Klay misses 2-3 weeks with an injury and that being the catalyst for a change.  But, it doesn't necessarily have to be soon (or even this season).  It doesn't have to happen at all as Kidd is not afraid to use "pseudo-starters" and then bring them out 4 minutes into the game.  That might also be what happens with Thompson so the crowd can cheer for the 'star' player during introductions.