Mavericks' Dereck Lively II contract dilemma has one clear answer

The Dallas Mavericks are in a tough spot with Dereck Lively II, but there's a solution that should make both sides happy.

The young big man just wrapped up his third season in the association, meaning he is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer. After seeing how he played during his rookie season, he seemed like he'd be an automatic lock to be part of Dallas' young core. Lively II was one of the Mavericks' most impactful players during their run to the NBA Finals in 2024, but the last two seasons haven't been as memorable.

He has played just 36 and seven games in the last two seasons, respectively, due to various injuries, making Dallas' decision about whether to extend him a major storyline this offseason. The Mavericks are in a bit of a dilemma, as not extending Lively II could result in him having a breakout season and driving his asking price way up. If they do extend him, and he doesn't stay healthy, Lively II's deal could quickly become a negative contract.

While it may seem like there is no clear path forward for the two sides to work something out, hope isn't lost to nail down the former Duke Blue Devil's future in Dallas.

Why Dallas should explore a short-term contract extension for Lively II

The best plan of action the Mavericks should explore with Lively II is a short-term extension. If the two sides can't find common ground on such a deal, they should allow him to play out his contract and enter restricted free agency next summer.

A lucrative, long-term extension for the 7-foot-1 center would be hard to justify. He has shown he can't stay healthy for an entire season, and his health is far too unpredictable to gamble on for the extended future.

This is why a shorter extension should be the only option that the Mavs consider this summer if they want to give Lively II a new contract. Even though there are risks with giving him an extension of any kind, a two-year deal could end up working out for Dallas for the right price.

A two-year extension would have Lively II under contract until the end of the 2028-29 season. This is far less risky than a four- or three-year extension, and it would allow the Mavericks to move on rather quickly if the injuries continue to pile up.

Just last summer, we saw Aaron Nesmith of the Indiana Pacers sign a two-year extension worth $40.4 million. While this number would be a bit rich for Lively II due to his durability issues, we could see a similar deal materialize depending on how Lively II's foot rehab is going this summer.

Why both sides could be happy with this outcome

It seems like he still has a long way to go before being at 100 percent, and there's even a chance that he isn't ready for opening night. But if Dallas has faith that he can put these injuries behind him, there's at least a chance they look at giving him an extension.

The two sides have at least talked about a new contract according to recent reporting, and the best move, if any, for the Mavericks would be signing him to a team-friendly short-term extension. This would show that Dallas has some level of faith in their 22-year-old big man, and if he breaks out next season and remains healthy, the Mavericks would be sitting pretty with two years remaining on his deal.

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