Mavericks' predicted 'breakout' star is set to torch the NBA this season

At Dallas Mavericks Media Day on Monday, Daniel Gafford was asked which of his teammates would have a "breakout" season this year, and he went with Dereck Lively II. Gafford and Lively II have been holding down the center spot in Dallas for the last year and a half, including the team's run to the 2024 NBA Finals, and if Lively II can have a monster year like Gafford predicted, the Mavs will be in great shape.

Lively II has been even better than the Mavericks could've dreamed over his first two seasons in the NBA, as he has averaged 8.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, all while being one of the most impactful center defenders in the Western Conference.

Lively II's length and height make him a nightmare when he's playing as a help defender, as he can quickly slide over and block any shot thanks to his anticipation and verticality. He even claimed that he had grown to 7-foot-2 or 7-foot-3 over the offseason, and if this ends up being true, he is going to be even more unstoppable.

Dereck Lively II is ready to leap into stardom

Outside of Lively II's defense and athleticism, he is also an excellent lob threat thanks to his size and good hands around the bucket. Even though his production in the pick-and-roll game declined somewhat after Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he is still a threat any time that he sets a screen in space, and that isn't only due to his dunking ability.

His passing out of the short roll is easily one of his most underrated skills, as he always seems to find open shooters in the corners when he catches the ball in the paint. Being a solid passer as a 7-footer isn't a common skill in today's NBA, and this should help him develop even more as he expands his offensive game.

Last season, we saw Lively II add a jump hook that he would utilize from time to time with either hand when he caught the ball around the bucket, and this could finally be the year that we see him begin to regularly attempt 3-pointers.

Lively II made his first three in Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals, but he hasn't attempted a single three-ball ever since. Mavericks fans were ecstatic to see him drill his first three with that much confidence, as he was always seen working on these shots during practice, and he said that he could begin to mix these shots into his game whenever they come to him.

Lively II made it clear that he isn't going to force these shots, but he seems ready to begin letting some corner threes and trailing threes fly. He has worked tirelessly on these shots ever since he arrived in Dallas, and this year may finally be the time for him to show it.

The Mavericks' frontcourt is loaded, as Lively II, Gafford, and Anthony Davis will be anchoring the defense for years to come, and fans will be crossing their fingers that Gafford's prediction comes true. It's clear as day that Lively II has another level to reach in his game, as he is only 21 years old, and he could be on track to become a star with the rest of the league watching if he can stay on the floor.