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I'm not asking who started last year, or what you think the starting lineup will be this year. I'm asking WHO DESERVES to start based on their play and seniority. For me the no brainers are:

Dragic (duh)
Green (Only thing keeping him from being in the running for an all star is consistency)
Markieff (This year we will find out if he's our PF of the future, or just another role player)


I'd also add Bledsoe to the mix, but only if he comes in with a new deal, a smile on his face, and tells us he wants to be here.

Tucker I think has also earned his spot despite his DUI conviction. If Bledsoe stays, tucker comes off the bench to relieve Green. If Bledsoe leaves, Tucker gets to start.

For our starting C, that's still up in the air. I think Len could easily win the spot if he outplays Plumlee. I love Plum Dawg, but he didn't do anything last year that Len couldn't overtake with a good training camp.

Bledsoe
Dragic
Green
Markieff
TBD

OR

Dragic
Green
Tucker
Markieff
TBD

At the start of the year I can imagine something like

Bledsoe
Dragic
Tucker (After he gets back from suspension)
Kieff
Plumlee

I don't think Len is good enough just yet to get the start, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's starting by all star break. Tucker is probably the most up for grabs position, because there's an argument he could be replaced by Green, Warren or maybe even Marcus. Okay, maybe not Marcus.

Center is our biggest question mark. Plumlee showed potential last year, but really struggled on offense without Bledsoe and didn't do so great in the summer league.

Len missed another summer league due to injury, so who knows where he is at. At least he can play in training camp and pre-season this year.

We could have two starting centers on our team or none.

I think that if neither of them is giving us enough confidence by mid season that they could be a starting center, we need to start thinking about upgrading that position by the trade deadline.

Bledsoe
Dragic
P.J. Tucker
Markieff
Plumlee

Point Guard - Goran Dragic/Isaiah Thomas/Tyler Ennis
Shooting Guard - Eric Bledsoe/Gerald Green/Archie Goodwin
Small Forward - P.J. Tucker/Marcus Morris/T.J. Warren
Power Forward - Markieff Morris/Anthony Tolliver/Shavlik Randolph
Center- - Miles Plumlee/Alex Len




Super thin front court.

PG/SG: Dragic(30), Bledsoe(30), Thomas(28)
SG: Green (8)
SF: Tucker(20), Warren(12), Green(12), Marcus (4)
PF: Markieff(28), Marcus (10), Tolliver (10)
C: Plumlee(20), Len(20), Markieff (8)

We will probably see Morris bros on C/PF together in game for couple minutes:
Bledsoe/Thomas, Dragic, Green, Marcus, Markieff

Len was light years away from supplanting Plumlee last year.

Barring injury, trades, or some new crazy swing in the Bledsoe saga, I will guarantee our starting lineup will be: Bledsoe/Dragic/Tucker/Morris/Plumlee.

Also, I expect Green to start in place of Tucker during his early suspension.

Obviously the front court has potential to be a gaping hole. We have no proven starters at power forward or center. I think Morris will be serviceable but he needs to get a lot better on D or we will see some weird lineups in crunch time. Center is an issue. Plumlee certainly works hard but I can't really see him becoming a decent offensive threat, and I've spoken at length about Len on here... so I will keep it short. But IMO he is not starting material and a bad fit for the transition attack of this offense.

I would not be shocked to see some combination of Green/Ennis/Goodwin and perhaps even the Morri floated about in early trade discussions in an effort to land a more solid big, be it a PF or C.

You guys are really hard on Plumlee. He struggled last season at times but he is our guy. Bledsoe staying then Plumlee will have a great season.


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