6 Dallas Mavericks players whose stock has surged this preseason

4. Dereck Lively II

Dereck Lively II put the league on notice for the Mavs throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs as he showed everyone that a future star in the NBA was hidden in plain sight, and he has shown that his game grew even more over the summer.

Throughout his rookie year, Lively II's offensive game was almost entirely dependent on scoring out of the pick and roll as a lob catcher. He and Luka Doncic formed a deadly tandem in the pick and roll, but he didn't show much of an ability to score after posting up or shooting jumpers (until the NBA Finals).

Through three preseason games, Lively II has shown that his offseason focus of becoming a better scorer in the paint has come to fruition. Lively II looks much more comfortable when scoring with his back to the basket, and he has sunk multiple post hooks through these first three games. His offensive numbers don't jump off the page this preseason by any means, but they should go right back up once Doncic returns.

On the other side of the floor, Lively II remains a problem for those trying to attack the paint. His 7-foot-1 frame and 7-foot-8 wingspan terrify those trying to attack the rim, and his length affects almost every shot in the paint.

He has also shown that his lob-catching abilities still remain strong with or without Doncic, and he looks ready to pick up where he left off in the NBA Finals as all signs point to him becoming the Mavs' new starting center for the 2024-25 season.