Rumored Mavericks belief confirms Cooper Flagg isn't their only rising star

The Dallas Mavericks think that Dereck Lively II can morph into a future Defensive Player of the Year, according to a recent report by ESPN's Tim MacMahon, and if Lively II can enter this conversation, Dallas' young core is going to be much better than anyone realizes. Lively II has become a fan favorite over his first two seasons in Dallas, and even though he has plenty of dominant moments, there is still an entirely new level he can reach in terms of being a defensive monster.

In a recent article that ranked the top 100 players in the NBA, where Lively II was ranked No. 73, MacMahon wrote about how the Mavs believe that Lively II's rim protection and ability to switch on the perimeter can help him project into an elite defensive player, and them believing that he can be a Defensive Player of the Year one day shows how high they are on him.

Dallas drafted Lively II with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and even though Mavericks fans were excited about the pick, no one could've dreamed that he would be this impactful this early.

Mavs believe Lively II can become a Defensive Player of the Year

As a rookie, he played a key part in Dallas advancing to the 2024 NBA Finals, and his performance over his first two years in the league has led the Mavericks to think that he can win a Defensive Player of the Year award one day. Over his first two seasons, Lively II averaged 8.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 72.9 percent from the field.

These stats may not jump off the page, but he quickly became one of the most valuable players on the team after being drafted. Dallas struggled to win games when he was out due to injury, and it was quickly obvious that the Mavs had a future star on their hands.

His presence down low on the defensive end is his most attractive attribute, as teams fear him when he is lurking around the rim. His length and athleticism allow him to slide over and reject shots that look unreachable, and his defensive intangibles make him someone who could turn into the Mavs' center of the future if he can remain healthy and continue to develop.

Mavericks fans should feel blessed that Lively II is a cornerstone of the young core, but the future of Dallas stretches much further than just Lively II and his defense and dunks.

The Mavs just drafted Cooper Flagg, signed Ryan Nembhard, and acquired Max Christie in the Luka Doncic trade. Each of these players will play a key part in the Mavs' future, and even if they can't win a title with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving at the core, their future after them will still be promising.

Brandon Williams is also only 25 years old, and P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford are just entering their primes at 27 and 26 years old, respectively. The Mavs are built to win now and in the future, and their young core deserves much more credit.

Mavericks fans are excited about Flagg, and rightfully so, but their future rests on more than just his shoulders. Lively II is coming onto the scene, and if he can have a healthy and productive year three, he'll show the rest of the league that he has the potential to be a top big in the West.

If Lively II can become one of the best defensive centers in the league and Flagg can turn into an All-NBA-type of guy, the Mavs are going to be set for the next 10 years. This all lies upon Lively II's health and development and Flagg's development, but if everything goes right, the Mavs will have one of the scariest young cores in the league if they can continue to build around the group that they have constructed.