Building a Contender: Can Mavs Copy Nuggets’ Blueprint for Luka Doncic?

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that can also be true when building out an NBA roster. For the Dallas Mavericks' offseason, they should take notes at how the Western Conference Champion Denver Nuggets constructed their roster.

The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic, and the Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, have plenty of similarities to their game, as they're both elite playmakers who are triple-double threats every single night. Though, where Jokic sets himself apart from Doncic is with the ability to eliminate dead possessions and stay away from forceful, clock-eating shot attempts that the Mavericks superstar sometimes finds himself falling into.

To be fair, Doncic would probably have an easier time avoiding those situations if he had the supporting cast Jokic currently has, but it’s something that he and the Mavs have to deal with regardless.

Outside of star guard Jamal Murray and former lottery pick Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets roster is filled with guys who know their role and are stars in that role. There's no ego involved within that team and it starts with Jokic. No one promotes team basketball like Jokic and that rubs off on the entire team and the way guys play the game.

When you have a guy who was on the brink of winning his third-straight MVP, who basically said he couldn't care less about the prestigious award, that's a guy who players want to saddle up with for the long haul.

Following Denver's sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James said in his postgame interview that the Nuggets are constructed of players with 'smarts'. On the latest episode of #thisleague UNCUT, NBA insider Chris Haynes said James reiterated that point in the locker room postgame.

"He said what's most important is that they're all smart. ‘That's what we need to get to,’" Haynes said, recapping James’ thoughts.

For the Mavericks, that's exactly what the team needs around Doncic: guys who have high basketball IQ and are stars in their role. Guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon. Gordon seemed to be an up-and-coming star with the Orlando Magic, but he found that playing the ultimate form of team basketball was best for his career after landing in Denver.

Michael Porter Jr., who was the considered as being the best player in his class before having to deal with several unfortunate injuries, has even taken a back seat and morphed himself into a super role player instead of forcing himself into a second or third “star” position.

Even to a lesser extent, players like veteran Jeff Green and rookie Christian Braun, who play hard, selfless basketball off the bench for Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone, help in a big way.

With the question mark that is Kyrie Irving's free agency, and the trade asset that is the No. 10 pick, along with veterans like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber as trade options, Dallas has several avenues to potentially add players that could fit well in a Doncic-centric roster.

It took Denver years to construct this championship-esque roster around Jokic, so expecting a complete overhaul for Dallas this offseason to mirror what the Nuggets have built doesn't seem likely. But they can sure kickstart that goal and at least try make up as much ground as they can.

Follow Michael Mulford on Twitter.

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