When the Dallas Mavericks acquired both Christian Wood and JaVale McGee this offseason, many thought the two will be starting together alongside Luka Doncic. However, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Jason Kidd has said before that Spencer Dinwiddie is going to replace Jalen Brunson in the starting lineup, while McGee is set to take over the center spot. Doncic, obviously, remains a starter together with Dorian Finney-Smith. That leaves the question on who'll be their fifth starter.

While the one that quickly comes in the mind of Mavs fans is Wood since he is basically the team's biggest acquisition this offseason, Tim Cato of The Athletic revealed that it's actually Reggie Bullock who is projected to start. Nonetheless, Dallas has its reason.

“I’ve been told the team’s planning to keep Reggie Bullock as the fifth starter. As things currently stand, the team’s splashiest acquisition this summer, Christian Wood, will come off the bench,” Cato wrote.

“This would be the Mavericks’ nearest facsimile of the starting lineup that brought them postseason success: two playmaking guards, two 3-and-D wings and a tone-setting center who plays fewer minutes than his counterparts off the bench.”

By the looks of it, the Mavs are prioritizing defense and shooting over an offensive boost at the center. While some would have questions about that, it actually makes sense since Dallas had plenty of success with that scheme.

Not to mention that they still had an upgrade with McGeee at the center over Dwight Powell. Furthermore, Wood is still expected to play plenty of minutes to help space the floor for the Mavs even more.

Of course things can still change, but Mavs fans have every reason to be optimistic about their roster in the upcoming 2022-23 season.