Mavericks may have misused their prized 7-foot-1 center this entire time

Through three NBA seasons, Dereck Lively II has largely operated as a rim-runner and play finisher at the five for the Dallas Mavericks. But there’s more to his game. He’s flashed real passing feel, yet injuries and a defined role alongside Luka Doncic have limited those opportunities. That could change next season.

Dereck Lively II’s finite role as a traditional center

After undergoing season-ending foot surgery in December, Lively II will have close to 10 months to recover before next season tips off. That runway matters for the 22-year-old, who has already battled a string of injuries early in his career.

Lively II will also return to a significantly different roster iteration. When he last played extended minutes, Anthony Davis was still on the team. However, Lively II appeared in just seven games last season, meaning his most recent consistent stretch came alongside Doncic and Kyrie Irving. That shift in personnel could meaningfully change how he’s used moving forward.

While Lively II was effective in a rim-running, play-finishing role, his responsibilities were limited by the players around him. Most of his touches came near or at the basket, operating primarily as a finisher rather than a creator. Much of that usage came alongside one of the league’s elite passers in Doncic, which oversimplified his offensive role.

Lively II's untapped passing potential in the Mavericks offense

Lively II will return to a reshaped offensive pecking order, sharing the floor with players like Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and Irving, neither of whom controls possessions in the same heliocentric way as a Doncic. As a result, Dallas will likely lean more into shared creation rather than one dominant initiator.

Given the team’s recent struggles with overall ball movement (ranking near the bottom of the league in passes per game in each of the past three seasons), there will likely be opportunities for secondary playmaking to emerge, which is an area where Lively II has already flashed potential.

As a rookie, the Duke product averaged 1.1 assists per game. That number more than doubled in his sophomore season to 2.4 assists per contest. His third year came in a limited sample due to injury, but he still posted 1.9 assists per game. He also opened the 2025–26 campaign with outings of three, two, and four assists before the injury bug disrupted his momentum.

A path to offensive expansion in Dallas

This isn’t to suggest the 22-year-old center will take on primary or even secondary initiating responsibilities. But Lively II has quietly shown he can function as a capable short-roll playmaker and passing hub in the post. Expanding his role into dribble hand-offs and elbow facilitation would give the offense another dimension, reducing the burden on overtaxed creators like Flagg.

After returning from consecutive season-ending lower-body surgeries, it remains to be seen whether Lively II will retain the same level of interior explosiveness on both ends of the floor. Still, developing his passing game wouldn’t just add another layer to Dallas’ offense — it could expand the 7-foot-1 big man's own offensive identity.

Lively II has primarily operated as a rim-runner and rim protector, but that role was shaped by circumstance. Injuries have limited both his availability and his opportunities to expand beyond that framework. Upon returning to action, the former lottery pick should have a chance to take on a more varied offensive role and further showcase his versatility.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow