5 Dallas Mavericks players that will surprise everyone in 2024-25

2. Dereck Lively II

Last summer, the Dallas Mavericks made a move that would change everything for them.

Dallas drafted Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 overall pick, and he made a big impact right off the bat. Lively II quickly became Dallas' starting big, and he showed early signs that he could anchor the defense.

As the year went on, Lively II's game continued to grow. His defense on the perimeter drastically improved, and he became Luka Doncic's trusted sidekick in the pick and roll. It's clear that Lively II will be key for the Mavs' future moving forward, and he is in a great spot to take a big year jump.

Lively II's continuous growth as a rookie shows that he is nowhere close to his peak, and he is only going to get better next season. He was known as someone who was in the gym as much as anyone this summer, and Lively II taking a huge leap and emerging as a top 10 center in the league would surprise some people who haven't followed his offseason closely.

Lively II is a gym rat, and he is focused on becoming a better scorer in the paint. If he can improve his touch in the paint while continuing to be a monster in the pick and roll, the sky is the limit.

Lively II also flashed his ability to shoot threes in the NBA Finals as he made a three in Game 4, and this is a skill that we could see him bring out some.