Predicting the Dallas Mavericks' 2015 Starting 5 Following Free Agency
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The Dallas Mavericks' 2015-16 starting lineup was supposed to have a different look, but when DeAndre Jordan got cold feet and went back to L.A., their lineup was going to look a whole lot different than they imagined. Here is the projected starting five for the 2015-16 Mavericks, and see if you can spot a 50-win team here.
Point Guard: Deron Williams
![Deron Williams, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-478234763.jpg)
Point Guard: Deron Williams
![Deron Williams, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-478234763.jpg)
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Williams will try to revive his career in his hometown, and Rick Carlisle will give him every opportunity to do that. Will he be the Williams of old? No. But he will be better than a lot of people believe he will.
Shooting Guard: Wesley Matthews
![Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-465171662.jpg)
Shooting Guard: Wesley Matthews
![Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-465171662.jpg)
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If Matthews can come back from a devastating ACL injury and play the way he did before the injury, he can be a difference-maker for the Mavs.
Small Forward: Chandler Parsons
![Chandler Parsons, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-459434006.jpg)
Small Forward: Chandler Parsons
![Chandler Parsons, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-459434006.jpg)
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Parsons had an injury-filled first season in Dallas, but he has the tools to be one of their go-to players on offense, and the Mavs are counting on him to take the next step.
Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki
![Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-458831022.jpg)
Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki
![Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-458831022.jpg)
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The Big German is not the same player he used to be, but he is going to have to find the same fountain of youth Tim Duncan found if he expects the Mavs to go far this season.
Center: Zaza Pachulia
![Zaza Pachulia, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-469624594.jpg)
Center: Zaza Pachulia
![Zaza Pachulia, Dallas Mavericks](/nba/files/2015/07/GettyImages-469624594.jpg)
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Another player was supposed to fill this role, but now it’s being filled by a serviceable big man who plays hard, but lacks the talent to be a difference-maker in the starting lineup.
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