Jason Kidd's Lineup Roulette: Cooper Flagg Anchors a Wild New Mavs Starting Five

Jason Kidd is officially treating the Dallas Mavericks' starting lineup like a random number generator. For Monday's matchup against the Sacramento Kings, Dallas is rolling out a starting five of Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, KJ Martin, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford.

If you had that exact combination on your bingo card, you are either a time traveler or lying. With Kyrie Irving sidelined, the Mavericks are throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, and right now, the glue is a 19-year-old forward.

"Underdog NBA reported the lineup alert: 'Mavs will start Flagg, Christie, Martin, Washington, Gafford on Monday.'"

Flagg has been forced to carry a massive offensive load lately, averaging 19.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He just shook off a minor shoulder injury in late October and is now being asked to anchor a lineup that looks like it was drafted in a panic room.

For anyone staring at the betting board, this lineup shift is a massive flashing light. Flagg’s usage rate is about to hit levels usually reserved for guys trying to win MVP in a contract year. If you are looking at his points props, just know he is going to have the greenest light in the building.

The Mavericks are coming off a chaotic week, bouncing back with a 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets after getting absolutely dismantled by the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96. Consistency is a foreign concept in Dallas right now, which makes this new starting five both terrifying and fascinating.

Christie and Martin stepping into the starting unit gives Dallas some much-needed athletic chaos on the wing, but it also means the floor spacing is going to be an adventure. Washington and Gafford will have to do a lot of heavy lifting in the paint just to keep the offense from stalling out in the half-court.

We will see if this experiment survives the night or if Kidd shuffles the deck again before their upcoming road trip to play the San Antonio Spurs. Until then, buckle up and prepare for the Cooper Flagg show, because he is the only thing keeping this rotation anchored to reality.