Dereck Lively II's extended absence is putting his Mavericks future in jeopardy

Through eight games and two weeks of the 2026-27 season, Dallas Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II has not taken the floor. He is still rehabbing his injured right foot after having a second surgery on it last December, and the Mavericks have not provided a timeline for his return.

It seems like he is still a ways away from returning to the floor, given the limited updates about his status that have been provided by the team, and the uncertainty surrounding his return makes his future in Dallas look more questionable. They already declined to give him a contract extension before this season, and his status could complicate their decision about whether to re-sign him in free agency next summer.

Dereck Lively II's future in Dallas seems uncertain

Lively is set to hit the open market in free agency following this season, as Dallas didn't give him a rookie-scale contract extension before last month's deadline. A contract extension was at least discussed by Lively and the Mavs, but they never came to an agreement.

This decision by Dallas to not give Lively a new contract gives the team the chance to see if he can prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season, and they likely made the right decision by not extending him.

Injuries have derailed Lively's promising career

While D-Live is outstanding and one of the most impactful young rim protectors in the NBA when he's on the court, injuries have derailed his career thus far. Lively has played just 98 games since being drafted in 2023, with 55 of those games being in his rookie year. Since then, he has played 43 games, and just seven last season.

Lively has proven how valuable he can be

The 2023-24 season was a glimpse into the type of player Lively can be. The young big man averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 74.7 percent from the field. His impact helped him finish sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting, and MFFLs fell in love with his game.

He was an elite lob catcher, a strong passer in the short roll, and the defensive anchor that Dallas needed. The former Duke Blue Devil played a huge role in the Mavs' run to the 2024 NBA Finals, but since that season, his production has been limited.

If Lively could stay healthy, the Mavs' decision about whether to give him a contract extension before this season would've been easy. He projects to be an elite fit next to Cooper Flagg due to his defensive versatility, connective passing, and energy, and Dallas needs a young, reliable center in their young core.

This season could determine whether the Mavericks keep Lively

But the Mavericks likely held off because he hasn't proven that he can stay on the court since his rookie year. His right foot has given him problems for nearly two years now, and given 7-footers' histories with lower-body injuries, Dallas erred on the side of caution.

They're taking this same patient approach to his recovery as well, and while they are doing whatever it takes to ensure that Lively's foot never gives him problems again, the length of his absence is becoming increasingly concerning.

The last game that he played in was November 21, 2025, which was 349 days ago. He still isn't practicing, and while Dusty May said that he is "making major progress," his return still doesn't seem close.

This gives Dallas' front office less time to evaluate his fit with the rest of the young core, which could make it harder for them to decide whether he deserves a new contract with the team — regardless of whether he proves that he can stay healthy when he does make his return.

The Mavs will have the ability to match any offer that D-Live gets, considering that he will be a restricted free agent, but he needs to get on the court and produce to help Dallas feel more confident about whatever decision they make.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow