The Dallas Mavericks are searching for answers after opening the season with one of the league’s worst offenses, and former NBA guard Lou Williams believes the fix starts with a lineup change.

Speaking on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, Williams called for D’Angelo Russell to move into the starting lineup and questioned the team’s current offensive setup — including Klay Thompson’s role and early struggles.

Through seven games, Dallas ranks last in offensive rating at 103.6 points per 100 possessions — a staggering figure in today’s high-scoring NBA. Injuries have only deepened the offensive woes. With Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Anthony Davis (calf strain), Danté Exum (knee), and Dereck Lively II (knee) all sidelined, the Mavericks have been forced to patch together makeshift lineups.

Losing Davis and Lively, two of their best screeners and paint finishers, has stripped the team of easy scoring options inside and left Cooper Flagg to initiate offense surrounded mostly by wings instead of traditional guards or roll threats.

Head coach Jason Kidd has experimented by starting Flagg at point guard, alongside Thompson and a mix of wings, rather than using Russell or Brandon Williams. The unconventional approach has yet to yield results — and Williams believes the problem is simple: Dallas lacks a true point guard presence.

Williams: “Dallas Needs a Point Guard”

Williams said the Mavericks’ offensive structure simply isn’t working without a true facilitator, arguing that Russell should be elevated into the starting five to stabilize the offense.

“They got, they have to make some adjustments,” Williams said. “Listen, we just talked about Houston and their point guard position. Dallas needs a point guard, and for whatever reason, they have one and he’s coming off the bench.”

Williams noted that while Dallas has plenty of talented players, few are capable of managing tempo and setting up teammates effectively.

“Now, I’m looking at their roster,” he continued. “They got a lot of guys that can play basketball. They don’t have a lot of guys that can play point guard. Now I understand D’Angelo Russell is gonna be the guy to come off the bench and give you that sixth-man vibe, give you that sixth-man feel. He’s gonna be able to score and make plays. So he gives you a balance. But at the top, you don’t have anybody that can do the job.”

Klay Thompson “Needs His Space Jam Basketball Back”

Williams also addressed Klay Thompson’s struggles, comparing his current slump to a scene from Space Jam. The 35-year-old guard is averaging just 8.1 points on 31.8% shooting and has failed to provide the offensive spark Dallas envisioned when signing him to a three-year, $50 million deal in 2024.

“A guy like Klay Thompson, who’s struggling and looks like somebody got his Space Jam basketball and he needs it back,” Williams said. “You gotta get those type of guys the basketball. He’s a rhythm guy, right? So you gotta make a concerted effort as a point guard and as a coach, and as a team, we gotta get those guys more looks and more opportunities.”

Williams added that part of the issue stems from the Mavericks’ inability to get their scorers involved in the right spots — particularly for players like Cooper Flagg, who rely on spacing and timing.

Lou Williams Pushes for D’Angelo Russell to Start

With both Irving and Davis sidelined, Williams said Dallas should experiment immediately by inserting Russell into the starting lineup to see if it sparks the offense.

“When an AD is out of the lineup, you’re gonna have some struggles. But you have a guy in D’Angelo Russell who can do that,” Williams said. “He can score the basketball. He can facilitate your offense and he can make plays for other guys, but you have him coming off the bench. At this point, you panic and you throw him in the starting lineup and you see if that helps.”

Until the Mavericks address their point guard rotation, Williams warned, the team will continue to struggle generating early offense and efficient transition play.

“Until then,” Williams said, “I think they’re gonna be a team that’s gonna struggle in early offense and transition until they clean up their point guard position.”

The Mavericks’ next chance to build momentum will be on Wednesday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

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