Dereck Lively II
#2C · Dallas Mavericks
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsC
| Year | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 98 | 8.4 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 72.5% | 0.0% | 57.9% |
| 2025-26 | 7 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 61.1% | 0.0% | 80.0% |
| 2024-25 | 36 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 70.2% | 0.0% | 63.0% |
| 2023-24 | 21 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 67.4% | 100.0% | 59.0% |
Current Contract
Length
2 years
Total Value
$12.5M
AAV
$6.2M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Dereck Lively II's contract with the Dallas Mavericks grades out as a slightly below-market contract, earning a D+ CVI grade. At $6.2M per year over 2 years, this is a role player contract. Dereck's deal falls in the role player tier for NBA Centers. At 22 years old, Dereck is in or near prime years, which supports the investment. The team paid a premium that will need to be justified by on-court production. The team will need Dereck to significantly improve to justify this financial commitment.
Performance Analysis
Dereck Lively II earns a C Performance grade, reflecting average production for a Center. Across 98 career games, Dereck has averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Dereck's strongest metric is FG% at 7247.5, compared to the NBA Center median of 46.0. The biggest area for improvement is APG at 1.6, below the Center median of 4.0. Among 96 NBA Centers graded this season, Dereck ranks 63rd in overall performance. Dereck will need to elevate key areas of the game to justify a larger role with the Dallas Mavericks.
Current Sentiment
Lively faces significant skepticism after season-ending foot surgery derails his development trajectory. On-court performance has been underwhelming, raising questions about his offensive skillset and impact. Contract appears reasonable at $6.2M, but production hasn't justified early-round draft expectations yet. Injury recovery timeline extending to 2026-27 dominates narrative, creating uncertainty about future viability. Fan confidence is pessimistic; many question whether Mavericks should explore alternative center options.
Transaction History
No transactions found for this player.