Dereck Lively II's injuries have Mavericks stuck in a corner without a clear way out

The Dallas Mavericks' frontcourt took a hit last season. Injuries and availability were the main concerns. Dereck Lively II was a key centerpiece of the Mavs' big-man rotation who suffered from the issues above. He was expected to take a major leap for Dallas last season, but injuries severely took their toll.

Lively II's injury history over the past three seasons now puts the Mavs in an uncomfortable corner. The reality is his lack of availability has put Dallas in a questionable spot, as it's unclear if Lively II will be part of the Mavs' future core. His inability to stay healthy suggests the Mavericks will likely not sign him to an extension this summer.

This is why they're stuck. If Lively II was able to stay healthy over his first three seasons, it'd be a no-brainer to sign him to an extension. He's extremely impactful when he's on the court, but he has played less than 100 games through his first three seasons.

Conversely, they can't trade him either. Teams don't know if he'd even be able to stay healthy if they make a move for him, and it makes the most sense for them to keep him heading into next season. He seems like a lock to be on the roster to start next season because of this, and even if Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz wanted to move on, now would be an extremely unwise time to do so.

Lively II's injury history is too much to gamble with

Dereck Lively II was a key component of the Mavericks' NBA Finals run in 2024. His arrival helped Dallas find stability at the center spot, a position they had struggled to find a reliable option for. The 7-foot-1 center's arrival in 2023 helped the Mavs solve their frontcourt issues. Lively II became a key piece of the Mavs' rotation right away. He started in 42 games his first year and became a huge asset down low.

However, there was just one problem that started to rear its head. Lively II lacked availability in his first season. He missed 32.9 percent of games his rookie year, as Lively II dealt with various ailments, including multiple ankle sprains. This was just the beginning of a large problem that was forming.

Things got progressively worse from there. Lively II missed 46 games in his second season, as newer injuries began to occur. He suffered from a stress fracture in his right ankle that eventually made things worse during his third year. The Mavs' center played in just seven games last season, and his list of injuries continued to pile up.

It seems Lively II's injury history has Dallas stuck in a corner. Lively II may never be fully healthy. It's something Dallas must accept. Remember, former coach Jason Kidd failed to provide an answer when Lively II would return to full health during his exit interview in April, and it seems no one will have a clear response to the question yet.

Mavs must accept reality about Dereck Lively II

As mentioned above, Lively II's list of injuries may never have a clear answer. Dereck Lively II may always struggle to stay on the floor. It's something the Mavs must accept, as the past three seasons have been a testament to his availability.

This is why the Mavericks are in an uncomfortable situation. The team likely doesn't feel confident in signing Lively II to a long-term deal, but his injury history also makes his trade value low. They can't trade him, but they can't extend him either.

This is why outlets like Bleacher Report suggest it may be time for Dallas to give up on the young center. They suggest the team may be secretly shopping the center, but he may have minimal value despite being on a rookie contract.

Yet, even if Dallas gives up on the young center, what would a trade look like? Could they gain true value from trading Lively II right now? Plus, how many teams are actually interested in a center with a long list of injuries?

Again, it's why the Mavericks are stuck in a corner with no way out. Do they gamble and take a risk on Lively II and hope he can stay healthy long-term, or do they trade him for whatever value they can receive?

Dallas has a difficult offseason ahead of them, and the corner that Lively II has forced them into may just lead them to keep him.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow