LITERALLY EVERY MAVERICK will sit out preseason opener

While the headline is a slight exaggeration, seven of the 20 Mavericks currently under contract will not suit up in Dallas' opening preseason game on Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets, Rick Carlisle told media members in the morning shootaround.

Wesley Matthews and Chandler Parsons are both out, as expected. Dirk Nowitzki is resting and Deron Williams is dealing with a nagging calf injury. Here's the rest of the inactives.

Dirk (rest), Matthews (Achilles), McGee (leg), Parsons (knee), D-Williams (calf), Powell (elbow) and Mejri (leg) will not play tonight.

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) October 6, 2015

On one hand, cool, it's preseason, no reason to play anyone if there's even the smallest hint of an injury. Williams is supposed to be back soon, Dirk is just resting and I think the Mavericks will live without Powell or Mejri.

On the other hand, FOUR OF THE MAVERICKS' FIVE STARTERS AREN'T PLAYING.

*mutters "it's just preseason" to self repeatedly while rocking back and forth*