NBA Insider Predicts Mavs Starting Center: Powell or Holmes?

We've officially reached the most quiet point of the NBA offseason where most of the free agency dollars are dried up and the countdown to the 2023-24 preseason has begun. 

On Friday, NBA Insider Marc Stein hosted a Q&A with his Substack subscribers, answering questions about all things NBA, including the Dallas Mavericks' offseason. 

When asked who would be Dallas' starting center if the front office was unable to acquire an upgrade before the start of the season, Stein had two names in mind: Dwight Powell or Richaun Holmes. 

"My instinct is that Powell will have the edge because of familiarity with Luka," Stein said.

That's a statement that many Mavs fans may not be excited to hear, being Mavs GM Nico Harrison made it clear of Dallas' intentions to upgrade both their rebounding and defense at the center position this offseason. Despite his chemistry with Luka Doncic, running Powell back as the starting center certainly doesn't move the needle in the favor of Dallas' aspirations. 

But, Stein followed up his Powell 'instinct' with the potential of newly-acquired veteran Holmes as a viable option for Jason Kidd. 

"I'm sure you've heard Mark Cuban tout Holmes as the most underrated pickup of the summer leaguewide," Stein said. "If that's the case then Holmes should win the starting job."

Following the acquisition of Holmes, Cuban spoke highly of Dallas' new center and his past performance prior to injury. "I mean, people forget what he could do with Sacramento before he got hurt, and then they get Sabonis and he takes his place," Cuban said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Prior to the Kings trading for Domantas Sabonis, Holmes averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 63.7 percent from the field in 29.2 minutes per game during the 2020-21 season.

While Powell has the familiarity amongst the team and coaching staff, Holmes brings a better rebounding and shot altering ability, which Dallas is in dire need of. And while through injury and falling out of the rotation in Sacramento, the Mavs are hopeful that same Holmes is still in there somewhere.

But as Stein noted, Powell is likely the favorite in the clubhouse to start the season at center for Dallas. But, if Holmes shows flashes of his 2020-21 self off the bench to start the year, or even before that in training camp, Kidd may be forced to make a lineup change.