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Dereck Lively’s leap: Rising into top-10 center conversation

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t just draft a young center two years ago—they invested in their future. Despite an injury-riddled sophomore season in 2024–25, 21-year-old Dereck Lively II showed flashes of being a franchise cornerstone. Now, following offseason surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right foot, Lively is back on track and expected to be fully healthy for training camp.

For a young big man, the ceiling is sky-high. At 7’1” with a 7’7” wingspan, Lively has already proven to be a defensive difference-maker. He alters shots at the rim, runs the floor with energy, and provides Dallas with a true anchor in the paint. While his sophomore year was disrupted by injuries, his presence when healthy was u

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