As soon as the Dallas Mavericks made a draft night trade to acquire Dereck Lively II in 2023, one comparison was hard to resist. “Kind of reminded me of a younger Tyson Chandler,” Vice President of Basketball Operations Michael Finley stated. Indeed, Lively offered rim protection and lob-finishing ability, something that Chandler excelled in when he helped the team win the championship back in 2011. While Lively II is yet to win a championship with the team, he’s established himself as an important part of the team. However, it seems that his role just got more pivotal for the upcoming campaign. 

This was a forgettable season for the Mavericks as they crashed out even before the playoffs. However, now, after winning the draft lottery, things have taken an interesting turn for the franchise. More so, as according to reports, Nico Harrison, the Mavericks GM, has claimed that Dereck Lively II has grown by a couple of inches. According to the update, the Dallas big man now stands at 7-foot-3 with a huge 7-foot-9 wingspan to complement his height. “Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said Dereck Lively has grown 2 inches during the offseason.” The claim read. 

“Lively stands 7’3” with a 7’9” wingspan. Dallas’s leading big man is now ‘incredible at protecting the rim.” The post has gained massive traction with many believing the news to be true. But is it? Well, it’s hard to give a solid answer. That’s because the account that posted this news is a parody account. So, the chances are high that it might just be fake news. Moreover, Dereck Lively II is officially listed as 7-foot-1, and there’s no other news that would confirm otherwise. So, one can say that until Lively II or someone from the Mavericks doesn’t confirms the news, it might be better to take this information with a pinch of salt. 

Nonetheless, the 21-year-old big will still have a huge role to play next season. This season, Lively II was plagued with injuries that stopped him from suiting up for the major part of the campaign. He had a solid rookie year in which he and the Mavs made a run to the championship finals. However, in his second year, Lively II only managed to average 8.7 points along with 7.5 rebounds in 36 games. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the upcoming season with the Mavericks looking to bounce back from this terrible year, as he recovers from an ankle injury. 

Dereck Lively II’s Injury Caused Tension Within the Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks had a rollercoaster of a season, and more and more details of their terrible season are being revealed. NBA Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Derek Lively II’s foot injury “caused what league sources describe as some significant tensions within the organization, including a notable blowup between director of player health and performance Johann Bilsborough and athletic performance director Keith Belton.” Lively was supposed to build on his maiden year in the league. Instead, he was held back due to injuries and only played 36 games this season. 

The 21-year-old’s injury was one of the many struggles the Mavs had to deal with throughout the season. Moreover, Dallas views Lively II as an important player for the future, and he’s yet to prove that he can stay healthy for an entire campaign. So, it’s important that the medical staff takes good care of their player. This blow-up came after Nico Harrison let go of the team’s long-time medical head, Casey Smith, and introduced Bilsborough and Belton. While Harrison defended his staff, things didn’t look too good within the franchise. 

As for Dereck Lively II, he is recovering from a disappointing sophomore season. The 21-year-old talented big man will look to bounce back from this setback and hope that he stays healthy throughout the season. More so, because after winning the lottery, the Mavs are tipped to land Copper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 pick this season. The arrival of the Duke star might make things complicated for Lively if he isn’t able to prove himself to the management. So, it will be interesting how things work out for the Dallas big man as a huge offseason awaits him.