Maverick Notes: Playoffs, Jordan, Frontcourt Minutes

The additions of rookie Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan have the Mavericks thinking about the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference, Dwain Price of Mavs.com writes.

“I think we have a good team, but the West is loaded,” said Dirk Nowitzki. “Now LeBron came over to the West as well, so there are a lot of great, great players in the West. It’s going to be a fight every game, but I think we’re up for it.”

Here’s more from Dallas:

• The team isn’t holding Jordan’s infamous 2015 decision to not sign with the Mavs against him, as Price relays in the same piece. “I think we’re going to all make him feel welcome,” Nowitzki said of Jordan. “He’s from Texas, so he’s going to love the community. I think he’s going to be great, I think he’s going to fit in great with coach’s system. The [center] is always running and rolling and protecting the rim, so we’re looking forward to him really fitting in.”
• Jordan will start at center and likely average around 32 minutes per game, but the frontcourt rotation outside the former Clipper is up in the air, Eddie Sefko of Sports Day explains. Nowitzki will likely see slightly over 20 minutes per contest, though it’s uncertain as to how many of those will come alongside Jordan. The Mavericks have Dwight Powell, Salah Mejri, and Harrison Barnes among their options for the remaining frontcourt minutes.
• Wesley Matthews, who will be a free agent after the season, wants to deliver a playoff run to the Mavs‘ fan base, as he tells Sefko in a separate piece. “I don’t want another long offseason,” Matthews said. “I don’t. I want a postseason [after the 2018/19 season]. We deserve it – this organization, these fans, us players – we deserve to be in the postseason competing.”