Japanese Maple From Nursery, Suggestions Please.

I just picked up this Japanese Maple from the nursery and am a bit apprehensive on what to do next. It has quite a bit of dead wood as well, I'm thinking this could be from lack of drainage or a particularly harsh winter. As I am a novice any help and suggestions on styling, pruning, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stefan

I say airlayer it right below the first branches and make a clump style out of it.

No. I think you will have to choose one of those very large "branches" then remove the other two and chop the one you choose. Then wait.

I would like to see a ground-level photo of the tree; that would help me suggest which "branch" to choose.

Before cutting anything off, I'd take it out of the pot and gently brush away the upper layer of soil to hopefully see more of the upper roots...they need to be considered when deciding the front and new leader.

Well way to shoot me down Jim

No "shooting" intended; just that those branches, being almost as large as the trunk, are much too large to be "branches" and it never would look attractive.

It was just a joke, and I didnt mean for them to be branches but three trunks if your air layer right under them.
Still might not be this best idea but it was just a thought.

Thanks for all your replies! I just re potted it yesterday and there was a bit of root rot near the bottom. This probably happens frequently with nursery stock with only one drainage hole and retentive growing medium. Once I got it out and brushed away the soil I discovered the nebari which was a very nice surprise.
This tree had good bonsai potential but I need to find out what my new leader is going to be, and what style I need to go for. I was thinking of going for a double trunk (which is prevalent with Japanese maples)
and cutting off the biggest branch as well as wiring down the other outside one so the middle gets the most amount of nutrients and becomes the main trunk. I don't know, here's some pictures of the nabari what do you guys think?


This is the front I think I should go with>


Possible other front>

If thats what you want then thats cool but just as a heads up, in twin trunks, the "daughter" trunk usually doesnt start that high.

example:

Hmm, good call. What do you think I should do, chop two off and go for informal upright?

Hello Stefan

Sunip

I think that looks promising.

I think Sunip's version is your best bet. From the pictures it looks as though the junction where the three trunks emerge is the grafted area. There is a reason why this variety was grafted, probably weak on its own roots, and therefore, an airlayer might not work well.