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

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.