Rumors: Mavericks make rookie center untouchable despite incoming trade offers

Noah Weber

Chicago Bulls v Dallas Mavericks / Tim Heitman/GettyImages

When talking about the Dallas Mavericks' success this year, the first thing that everyone points toward is the success of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as a tandem and individually.

This duo looks as strong as ever, and despite them both battling injuries, this duo has gained chemistry. When Kyrie and Luka are at their best, this team is hard to beat.

Despite Luka and Kyrie's success, the third-most important player on this team has undoubtedly been rookie center Dereck Lively II.

Rumors: Mavericks make rookie center untouchable despite incoming trade offers

The Mavericks drafted Lively II with the No. 12 overall pick, and this has proved to be the best offseason move from Dallas. This season, Lively II is averaging 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 73.5 percent from the field.

He is vital for Dallas' success, and they have missed him tremendously when he has been out with injuries. His ability to rebound, block shots, and be a consistent lob threat are invaluable, and his fit next to Doncic has been excellent.

Due to Lively II's outstanding rookie season, the Mavericks have been receiving trade offers for him from "rival teams," according to a report by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Even with these incoming offers, the Mavericks have reportedly made him untouchable, as Scotto said that "Dallas has told those who’ve called he’s not for sale."

This shows how much Lively II already means to this team, as the Mavericks don't seem to want to move him, regardless of the potential return. This is promising, as it shows Dallas' deep belief in Lively II's potential, and they seem to consider him one of the cornerstones of the franchise alongside Doncic and Irving.

For all the latest on Dereck Lively II and the Dallas Mavericks, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.