Can we build around Derek Lively?

[Smitty]

Lively is not someone you build around anyway? Too many fans have overrated him to the point that some even think of him as untouchable or as you put here, a building block. Yes, he has shown to be an elite defensive big that has switch-ability on the perimeter as well as great rim protection. His on/off and netRTG numbers always show how impactful he is but he's a ~20 minute per game, 4 points per game, 5 rebounds a game -- Big this year, that has played ~40% of available games in his career. Sure, we love him because he's ours, but I don't think the league would value him like some here do.

I would love nothing more than for Lively to stay healthy and show that he can be a big minute's player and finish his long career here, but I fear that we'll soon get the "Lively is out for the season" tweet and it just sucks! Especially for him.

We talked this summer about this being an important season for him, with the extension talks looming next offseason. He had a chance to show that he could stay healthy, play starter minutes, be a PnR Big of the future with Flagg. Unfortunately, he will now be labeled as an injury prone Big, and the Mavs front office would be crazy to permanently pencil him in for any future roster building plans. Whatever you get from Lively going forward should be considered 'a bonus'.

@ShamsCharania
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo season-ending right foot procedure to address lingering discomfort, sources tell me and Tim MacMahon. Lively, who played 7 games this season, is expected to make a full recovery.



As for extension talks this summer. I think the most I'm offering is 4/$30M with a TO. Any higher and it needs to be structured like the Zion contract, or the FO needs to let it play out and see if he can stay healthy before reaching RFA the following summer.