Dereck Lively II 2023 NBA Draft profile: Better shot blocker than Victor Wembanyama?

The Dallas Mavericks' biggest problem since winning the NBA Finals in 2011 has unarguably been not having a quality starting center.

They have had a few that were decent such as Tyson Chandler during his second stint with the Mavericks in the 2014-15 season and DeAndre Jordan for half of the 2018-19 season. But they haven't been able to find a starting big man that can anchor their defense and rebound at a high rate like Chandler did in both of his stints with the Mavericks.

Dereck Lively II 2023 NBA Draft profile: The Dallas Mavericks' big man of the future?

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison has already said that defense and rebounding are two of the team's biggest needs this offseason, but how will Dallas address these issues?

One way to do it is through the draft. They have a 79.8% chance to keep their pick, and they could be looking to draft a big man. One worth considering is Duke center Dereck Lively II.

The 7'1 big man averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in just 20.6 minutes per game in his freshman season at Duke. He is projected to get drafted in the middle to late part of the lottery and could be an option for the Mavericks if they decided to trade back.

Here's a look at Lively II's game and how he'd impact the Mavericks if they happened to take him.

Dereck Lively II's strengths

Derrick Lively II is a solid rim runner and can anchor a defense. Here's a look at two of his top strengths observed from a breakdown of his film.

1. Shot blocking

Shot blocking is something that the Mavericks desperately need. Last season, they were 28th in the NBA with just 3.7 blocks per game. Their starting center, Dwight Powell, averaged 0.3 blocks per game.

Dallas needs someone that can protect the rim. Badly.

Lively II can be that guy. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game and 4.2 blocks per 36 minutes. The 4.2 blocks per 36 minutes are higher than Victor Wembanyama's 3.5.

Lively II is an elite rim protector and would be the best shot blocker on the Mavs from the moment they take him. He has great anticipation when players are going to shoot, and he uses his 7'7 wingspan to disrupt everything. His big frame allows him to not get bumped around easily, and when he's in the paint the other team has to consider that he can block anything at any moment.

Lively II also showed flashes of elite help-side defense. He has a good feel of when a player is going to shoot, and he leaves his man to help at the perfect time. Lively II won't be a liability in the pick-and-roll as he can stay with guards decently well and has the length to recover and block shots even when he gets beat.

2. Lob threat

Lively II isn't going to come in and be an elite offensive player. He struggles at posting up, can't shoot, and can't create his own shot. But he is a great lob catcher and finisher around the bucket.

He has good length and athleticism and is always a threat to throw down an alley-oop slam. Lively II would often be left open on the weak side and his point guard would lob it up to him for an easy bucket. He runs the rim well and is good at finishing second-chance points off offensive rebounds. He dunks everything, and Dallas would thrive with this type of energy.

Dereck Lively II's weaknesses

Overall, Dereck Lively II is weak on the offensive end, and here are two of his biggest areas to improve observed from a breakdown of his film.

1. Shooting

Lively II can't shoot. Period.

He shot two of 13 from three last season for just 15.4 percent and was a 60 percent free throw shooter. His form is unconventional, and he likely won't be a threat as a shooter for multiple seasons unless something changes quickly.

He just doesn't shoot often. Lively II only took 117 shots in 34 games, and most of those were at the rim. The 7'1 big man is efficient when he does shoot, as most of his buckets are dunks, but he isn't a reliable option besides being a rim runner.

2. Shot creation

Shot creation is something that most traditional bigs don't have, and Lively II is no different.

He can't create his own shot off the dribble or in the low post. The former Blue Devil is a lob threat or second-chance point guy at this point in his development. The pick and pop won't be an option for Dereck Lively II until he gains some confidence and touch from 15 feet and beyond.

Dereck Lively II's fit on the Dallas Mavericks

Dereck Lively II would be a dream fit on the Dallas Mavericks because he rebounds, blocks shots, and would be a perfect lob target for Luka Doncic.

His weaknesses are also skills that wouldn't be required of him on the Mavs. He wouldn't need to create for himself or shoot outside, as Dallas already has plenty of players that do that already.

It would be a big swing to take him that early, but it could be worth it if Mark Cuban and company think he could come in and immediately fix some of the glaring issues within the team. They could trade back and take him along with gaining assets if he remains lower on draft boards.

Stay tuned to see if the Dallas Mavericks decide to use their first-round pick to draft this 7'1 big man from Duke on June 22. It could be a franchise-altering night, so do not miss it.