Next Mavs Up? Breaking Down Non-Doncic Options

Several Mavs would need to step up with running the offense if Luka Doncic misses time any games this postseason.

Luka Doncic straining his calf in the season finale and then being seen in a walking boot outside the hospital has put a dark cloud over the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz.

It might not be possible for one person to replicate Doncic's Herculean workload. He leads the team in four key stats: 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals.

Luckily, the Mavs do have several good options to rally together if Doncic misses a game or two. They will need to develop a next-man-up mentality.

Here are some players who will help fill the shoes if Doncic misses any time:

Jalen Brunson

The Villanova product has registered career highs with 16.3 points and 4.8 assists in 79 appearances. He will certainly have no shortage of suitors in free agency this year.

Brunson will have to pick up some of the scoring and distributing if Doncic is out. Watch for the Jazz to throw a long defender like Royce O'Neale to try to keep Brunson out of the lane.

It is no secret that Brunson has struggled when being defended by length, especially in the last year's series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Don't be surprised if Utah coach Quin Snyder uses that same strategy.

There is no current timetable for Doncic's strained calf.

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Brunson will have to step up with Doncic out.

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Dinwiddie has been elevated the Mavs after he was acquired at the trade deadline.

Spencer Dinwiddie

Since the Mavs traded for him in February, he has averaged 15.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 23 games. The combo guard has also made a number of highlight plays in his short time with Dallas.

Dinwiddie has given the Mavs another ball handler and perimeter threat. He can run the offense off the bench and attacks downhill, using his 6-6 frame to get leverage on smaller defenders to score in the paint. 

The Mavs sure could use performances from Dinwiddie like his 36-point effort in a comeback win when Doncic was out.

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In the 2020 NBA Bubble, Burke provided much-needed scoring.

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Green has provided the Mavs with great playmaking in his limited play-making duties.

Ntilikina could provide great defense against Utah's Mitchell

Trey Burke

Burke was a valuable contributor in the 2020 bubble, averaging 12.1 points in 14 games. He has not played much this season because of his vaccine status and being in health and safety protocols, but the veteran may be called upon to provide a scoring punch in the playoffs. 

The main drawback is his defensive liability. Utah's Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley could seek Burke out in pick-and-rolls or target him in isolation. Burke often gets stuck on screens and struggles to stay in front of his man.

Jason Kidd values defense, but will need to consider Burke if the Mavs are struggling to score in the half court.

Josh Green

After being buried on the bench his rookie season, the Arizona product has been a catalyst for the slowest-paced team in the league.

Green has showed promise as a playmaker, both on and off the ball. He makes the extra pass and moves without the ball, attributes that don't show up in the box score.

Green's shooting is the most concerning part of his game, as he shot the 3 at a 31.1-percent clip in his first two seasons. Recently, he has been letting it fly with less hesitation, but the playoffs are a different monster. The Jazz will probably force Green to make 3s when he steps on the floor.

Frank Ntilikina

The French guard may be paired with Brunson and Burke to help mitigate their defense shortcomings. Ntilikina is a gifted defender and has had success guarding Mitchell before. 

However, Ntilikina has struggled to stay in the rotation this season. If he can provides outside shooting and slow down Mitchell, it would be a godsend.