The Mavericks lost the Luka Doncic trade the most, but Dereck Lively might legit be the second-biggest loser of that deal. With Lively on the floor as a rim-runner, versatile athletic big next to Doncic, the Mavericks had a blueprint for success for the next decade.
- Matt Moore
FanSided Contributor
Instead, Lively now faces an uncertain future with a Hall-of-Famer who will play a lot of center even if he doesn’t prefer it next to him, ongoing injury questions, and a team construct that fundamentally reimagines Lively’s role.
The good news? Lively still projects as an elite pick-and-roll finisher and transition big who, in time, should become a three-level defender in switch, drop, and zone. It’s still a shame that a player with such a perfect fit had his whole career flipped upside down, seemingly on a whim.