By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic is projected to be the starting power forward for the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Tim Mac Mahon.
While Doncic usually operated as a “2” in the Real Madrid lineups next to a smaller, quicker point guard (like Facu Campazzo), and was sometimes used as a “3” (paired with players such as Campazzo or Fabien Causeur), playing as a power forward was far from common for the reigning EuroLeague, Final Four and ACB MVP.
His new role will happen because Rick Carlisle plans to have Dennis Smith and Wesley Matthews Jr. on the backcourt and then Harrison Barnes as a small forward. The starting center will, of course, be DeAndre Jordan.
And what about Dirk Nowitzki? Mac Mahon also reports that Carlslile said that the German forward will “likely come off the bench.”