DSJ Quick Take: Dallas Mavericks Open Extension Talks With Dereck Lively II
The Dallas Mavericks have entered contract extension discussions with center Dereck Lively II, according to Marc Stein of the Stein Line. Lively has appeared in 98 of a possible 246 regular-season games across his first three seasons.
- What is on the table? A contract extension for Lively, who is entering the 2026-27 season on a fourth-year team option.
- Why is the timing notable? Lively has not been cleared for running or jumping as of June, and his 2025-26 season ended in December after a second surgery.
- What has he produced when healthy? He averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks as a rookie, then 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 36 games as a sophomore.
- Who else is in the frontcourt? Daniel Gafford, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, and Moussa Cissé are all under contract, and Dallas is reportedly fielding offers for Gafford.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have entered talks with Dereck Lively II on a possible contract extension, according to Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
Extension talks signal that Dallas still has faith in Lively, whose production in his first three NBA seasons has been overshadowed by injuries. He’s played in just 98 of 246 possible regular-season games since entering the league.
Dereck Lively II’s NBA Career
Still just 22 years old, Lively was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after spending one season at Duke. A year prior, the big man was a consensus top-three high school recruit in the country.
Lively burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Mavericks. Although he played just 55 games, Lively averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game as a key contributor to a team that represented the Western Conference in the 2024 NBA Finals. His first-year campaign earned him an All-Rookie selection and landed him at sixth in Rookie of the Year voting.
As a sophomore, Lively’s rebound average jumped to 7.5 per game, and he more than doubled his assist average to 2.4 per game, showcasing a high feel for finding open teammates out of the short roll.
Unfortunately, Lively was limited to just 36 games in his second season due to a stress fracture in his right ankle. He underwent surgery on the foot last summer before being cleared to play for the 2025-26 season.
The foot remained a source of discomfort, though, and Lively’s season was ultimately shut down in December after another surgery was deemed necessary. Before his year ended, Lively played only 7 games and tallied career-low averages in minutes, points, rebounds, and field-goal percentage.
Mavericks fans were disappointed to hear that Lively still hadn’t been cleared for running or jumping in June, but if Dallas is willing to invest in the young center, it could bode well for how the team views his rehab process.
Where Dereck Lively II Stands Among the Dallas Mavericks’ Bigs
Especially considering the Mavericks’ depth of big men.
Last summer, Dallas signed Daniel Gafford to a three-year, $54.4 million contract extension. This June, the Mavericks drafted big man Morez Johnson Jr. out of Michigan with their ninth overall pick and shortly thereafter traded for the 7-foot-tall Santi Aldama.
Most recently, Dallas brought back Moussa Cissé for his second season after matching a two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet from the New York Knicks.
The Mavericks are reportedly fielding trade offers for Gafford, but the team is still left with a logjam of bigs. If Dallas considers Lively worthy of an extension despite the depth behind him, that could indicate a trust from the Mavericks’ brass that he’ll return healthy and productive for the 2026-27 season.
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