Barring injury, it's more likely than not that Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker, Lauri Markkanen and Robin Lopez start the regular-season opener Oct. 18 in Philadelphia.
Nevertheless, Fred Hoiberg has declared the lineup "open competition" during training camp.
That's music to Wendell Carter Jr.'s ears.
"Robin is a phenomenal player," Carter said Tuesday after his first official NBA practice. "We're both competitors and competing for that spot. I'm coming into camp thinking there are no defined starters, trying to prove myself every day."
The first-round pick would be hard-pressed to find a better mentor than Lopez. Solid and selfless, Lopez, 30, showed again last season how he's all about the team. He pushed players in practice, even as management stripped him of his starting job to maximize draft-lottery position.
"Anytime we're on the court, he's coming at me. But I feel like that's the only way I can get better," Carter said. "In my opinion, you learn more from the players than the coaches. I'm learning how he plays defense, how he scores in the pick-and-roll and in the post without using too much effort and how smart he is just all-around."
Carter, 19, continues to draw internal raves with his poise and performance. Hoiberg praised his physical play and singled out one stop he made at the rim in Tuesday's morning session.
"I like his game," fellow big man Bobby Portis said. "He's relentless. He's fearless. And he's a competitor."
