Mavericks' perfect plan for Cooper Flagg's future is already crumbling

Before the Dallas Mavericks' preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 11, Jason Kidd called Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II a "great tandem" and a "foundation of future." There was tons of hype surrounding this duo before the season began, as both players played at Duke, and there was a friendship already there.

Fast forward just a few weeks, and Lively II has missed three games in a row due to a knee sprain. On paper, Lively II and Flagg have the chance to be building blocks for the Mavericks' future for years to come, but if Lively II can't stay on the floor, Dallas is going to suffer for it.

Over his first two seasons in the NBA, Lively II played 81 total games, and availability quickly became his Achilles heel.

Cooper Flagg-Dereck Lively II duo hinges entirely upon health

He's great when he's on the floor, as he is one of the best young rim rollers and shot blockers in the Western Conference, but injuries have already taken a toll on his young career. Lively II is only 21 years old, and he has already suffered a knee injury three games into the 2025-26 season.

Lower-body injuries are no joke for tall bigs, especially considering Lively II said that he has grown to be 7-foot-2 or 7-foot-3, and he has to get back on track in this area to reach his full potential and become Flagg's running mate as Dallas begins this new era. These two have all the tools to be foundational pieces for the Mavericks, as they embody the team's "defense wins championships" mindset and are all about winning, and it seems like Lively II's identity will come down to whether he can stay on the court or not.

He knows this, as he wants to stay on the court and help his team win as badly as anyone, and the severity of this knee injury could determine how the Mavericks fare over the next few weeks.

First, this injury was ruled a knee contusion, but it has now been called a knee sprain. These designations are completely different, as a contusion is just a bruise while a sprain is typically more serious, and we should know more about his timetable to return over the next few days.

It's worth noting that Lively II didn't travel to Mexico City when the Mavericks played the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, and his recovery from this injury will likely end up being one of the biggest stories over the next few days.

Daniel Gafford, returning from his ankle sprain over the weekend, helps, but the Mavericks are still without Anthony Davis. They're going to need everyone to stay as healthy as possible this season if they want to make a playoff push, as they're without Kyrie Irving indefinitely due to an ACL tear, and Lively II's health will be his biggest X-factor when it comes to whether he can take another step in his development this season.

He has shown major signs of improvement, including adding a smooth hook shot to his game, and Mavs fans will be hoping that they can see plenty more of this as the season goes on. He has become a fan-favorite over the last few years with his incredible shot-blocking, high-flying dunks, and team-first attitude, and this season is the perfect time for him to expand on his game and become even more of a staple in Dallas.

Already having a young big man that Flagg has a relationship with on the roster is perfect for him, as he has someone in his corner as he begins his NBA career, and he just happens to make players with Lively II's playstyle much better. Flagg loves throwing lobs, as shown by his on-court dynamic with Khaman Maluach last season at Duke, and Mavs fans could be seeing plenty of lobs between Lively II and Flagg over the next few seasons.

Kidd is 100 percent right to see the potential in the Flagg-Lively II duo, as they have complementary playstyles and have the skillset to be anchors of the Mavericks' defense, but Lively II's durability may hold this tandem back from being as dangerous as once expected.