Camp Starts Without the Big Man
The Dallas Mavericks are set to begin training camp this Saturday, but their key big man will not be there. According to reports, center Dereck Lively II remains uncleared for camp while recovering from his December surgery. The team starts its preseason games in Macao, China, on Oct. 9, and Lively will miss those too. His status for the start of the regular season on Oct. 21 has yet to be determined.
This is a tough blow for a team counting on him to anchor their defense around second-year star Cooper Flagg. Lively was a major part of the run to the 2024 NBA Finals, but he has missed significant time since. He played only seven games last season before his foot issues forced him to sit out. The Mavericks are being very careful with his recovery under their new front office structure.
Patience Over Rushing
Despite the bad news, the front office says there is no panic. MacMahon observed that Lively faces no setbacks and is gradually increasing basketball activity. The team is choosing to be safe rather than risk another injury. Lively himself explained his mindset in June while he was still healing. “I’m just waiting to see that my foot’s good. Even when it’s good, I gotta wait even more to make sure I don’t have to do this again. I’m never going to rush back.”
His injury history is long and frustrating. It started with a stress fracture in January 2025 that was misdiagnosed as a sprain. He later needed surgery to remove bone spurs. Since being drafted in 2023, Lively has appeared in only 98 of 246 eligible games. That is a lot of missed time for a player who shows such promise when he is on the floor.
What This Means for the Roster
With Lively out, the starting center spot is open for competition. Daniel Gafford is the favorite to start at center while Lively heals. The Mavericks also have depth with Santi Aldama, Moussa Cisse, and Morez Johnson Jr. They even have Dwight Powell back for camp to help fill the gap. This gives the team a way to survive the short term without their star big man.
The financial stakes are high too. The Mavericks exercised Lively’s fourth-year team option for the 2026-27 season last October. Now the front office has to decide if he fits their long-term plans. They cannot sign a big contract to a player who keeps getting hurt. But if he gets healthy, his size and passing ability make him a perfect fit for a contender. The team has a much higher ceiling if Lively can stay on the court.
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