Mavericks' Luka Doncic trade corners Dereck Lively II into an unforgiving position

When the Dallas Mavericks traded away Luka Doncic on February 1, the entirety of the NBA world was flipped upside down. Not only was Doncic the only thing talked about on social media for weeks, but the Mavericks' return for Doncic was nothing compared to what they would have gotten for him had they openly shopped him around on the trade market.

The Mavericks received only one future first-round pick, in addition to Max Christie and Anthony Davis, which significantly compromised Dallas' identity. Before trading Doncic, the Mavericks were known for their powerful offense, especially in the pick-and-roll, where they utilized screens in the half-court with their two big man studs, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.

After trading Doncic, there's no doubt that the Mavericks' identity on offense was stripped away from them, as both Gafford and Lively II failed to have a pick-and-roll partner that delivered the ball as well as Doncic did. With this in mind, the Mavericks are now walking a slippery tight rope with Lively II, as he may not be the offensive threat the Mavericks once thought he was without Doncic or an elite passer handing him the ball.

Luka Doncic trade threatens to reshape Dereck Lively II's trajectory

When the Mavericks selected Lively II with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, they filled a major hole on the roster at the center spot. Not only would Lively II prove in his first career game that he was going to be Dallas' center of the future, but he would prove to be an elite pick-and-roll partner around Doncic and his deadly lob passes.

Through the first year and a half of Lively II's career alongside Doncic, he rose into contention as one of the league's best starting-caliber centers due to his elite shot blocking and vertical threat in the paint. While Lively II relied on Doncic for his source of offense, when the Mavericks traded away the Slovenian, the team not only lost its identity, but Lively II lost some of his bread and butter on the offensive end of the floor.

Although Lively II was injured for most of the season with a misdiagnosed bone fracture, when he did return to the floor with just a few games in Dallas' season, he failed to look like the offensive player he had been in the past. There's no doubt that Lively II wasn't in 100 percent game shape when he did eventually return to the hardwood, but it's still important to note that without a pick-and-roll partner, his offense was severely limited (even though his post hook showed promise at times).

In the past, Kyrie Irving has shown he can be an elite passer when he has the defense on his heels, but with no timetable for Irving returning from his torn ACL, Lively II may be left out to dry. Since being drafted, Lively II came to Dallas to become a big-time lob threat, and without an elite passer, his offense could quickly dwindle.

Lively II has shown an ability to develop an efficient hook shot as well as his touch around the rim, but due to injuries, fans didn't get to see Lively II develop his own offensive game. It will be important for both Lively II and the Mavericks that he develops his offensive identity away from the screen and roll, but regardless, the Mavericks took away Lively II's best attribute.

By no means would trading him be the only way out, but if Lively II fails to look like he is developing an offense game in the paint after receiving surgery in the offseason to repair his foot, then the Mavericks may need to look to get the most value for the third-year center.