Dereck Lively II will give the Mavericks what none of their centers can

The Dallas Mavericks' center rotation has been one of the team's strengths despite the injuries it has been dealt. Daniel Gafford, Morez Johnson Jr., and Santi Aldama (in the last three games) have held down the fort while Dereck Lively II recovers from foot surgery, but Lively is the missing piece this unit needs.

Dereck Lively II brings what the rest of Dallas' centers can't

They need a little bit more balance, and that's exactly what Lively brings. He's an elite defender due to his verticality, rim protection, ability to switch on the perimeter, and length, and he will be Dallas' best center defender as soon as he returns.

Gafford, Johnson, and Aldama are solid defenders in their own way, but none of them has the pedigree Lively has. Johnson is physical, can switch on the perimeter, and is a great rebounder, but has just one block in 10 games. Gafford is a great shot blocker and isn't afraid to get dunked on, but doesn't defend well against mobile bigs. Aldama has good length and size, but doesn't have the strength to contain stronger big men inside.

Dusty May's rotation of bigs has strong defensive capabilities as a unit, but they have a hole on that end. Once Lively is healthy, they'll have a healthy center who can defend any type of big man.

Lively can defend any type of center

Lively will give this group much more depth and reliability (if he can stay healthy), as he has the tools to defend most types of centers. D-Live has the foot speed to defend mobile bigs, the strength to slow down interior-focused centers, and the discipline to guard big men who like to shoot threes. He's the complete package on that end, and the Mavs clearly need one more reliable center in the rotation.

Any game that Gafford or Johnson misses puts May in a tough spot, as he is forced to rely on Aldama as a center or play Moussa Cisse. May hasn't seemed to trust Cisse through the first 11 games, and Lively's return will give them a three-headed monster inside that has the tools they need to have strong play at center for 48 minutes.

Lively can unlock another element of the Mavericks' offense

On the other end, Lively will help give Dallas' offense more connectivity. May's offense needs solid passing and decision-making due to the amount of movement and handoffs it has, and Lively can be relied upon in this department. He sets strong screens and is a good passer out of the short roll, making life easier for ball handlers and shooters on the perimeter.

Lively is also a good finisher out of the pick-and-roll due to his athleticism and ability to catch lobs. He had 141 dunks in 55 games as a rookie, showing how valuable he is when playing with a good playmaker. D-Live runs the floor as well, giving Dallas another strong play finisher in transition.

The Mavs have missed Lively's impact on both ends

He has career averages of 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, and the Mavericks could use this production on both ends of the floor. Lively became a staple of Dallas' culture during his rookie year due to the impact that he made so quickly, and he was one of the team's X-factors during the 2024 NBA Finals run.

Lively's return will balance out the frontcourt considerably, and Mavs fans can't wait to see him play after an extended absence. He hasn't played since November 21 of last year, and his absence has certainly been felt. The energy, effort, and leadership that he brings to the floor is evident, and his size and skill on both ends of the floor will give May a dynamic new element to his center rotation that he hasn't had.

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