What analysts are saying about Mavericks’ first-round pick Dereck Lively II

The newest member of the Dallas Mavericks once recorded eight blocks in one of the biggest games of the college basketball season.

Against North Carolina, Dereck Lively II blocked eight shots, and will bring his 7-foot-1 height and rim-protection to Dallas.

The Mavericks selected Lively II with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Lively II blocked more than two shots per game at Duke, and will likely help Dallas’ defense from the first game.

Lively II was the No. 1 high school recruit in the 2022 class, but dealt with injuries and struggled in his first few games at Duke — only scoring 19 points in seven games. Over the season, Lively II averaged 5.2 points per game on 60% shooting. But with his size and a pairing with superstar Luka Doncic, Lively II could be a dangerous rim runner in the Mavericks offense.

“He was really heavily criticized, a lot of people saying, ‘Wait, this is the No. 1 high school player,’” said ESPN college basketball guru Jay Bilas said. “But he persevered through it. And toward the end of the season, you saw him as a big time shot blocker, rim runner, rim protector and excellent in pick-and-roll. He shot 85% as a pick-and-roll roller. I think a lot about Deandre Jordan when he came out of Texas A&M.

“I think Dereck Lively II’s offense can come. He’s got a nice touch. That will come in time. But the defense, the rebounding, running the floor, he’s got that already.”

Lively II may also provide above average perimeter defense for a 7-1 player. Dallas will need any defense it can, as it ranked 24th in the NBA in defensive rating and 28th in total blocks last season.

“He had a terrific pro day,” said ESPN’s Andraya Carter. “He knocked down multiple 3s and showed he can score the basketball. We were told he would work in the morning before practice, work after practice, he would work on the inside with a 7-foot teammate, then his breaks were to go on the perimeter and guard a 5-8 teammate on the 3-point line. He’s shown he can put in the work to become the player he wants to be.”

Three-point-shooting is becoming almost necessary for all players in the NBA, inlcuding centers. Lively II only shot 15% from behind the arc last season at Duke, but one former NBA sharpshooter said Lively II could develop an adequate 3-point shot.

“There are a lot of viral videos this pre-draft process of him knocking down 3-point-shots, and I recognize there was no defense, but in a best case scenario, I could envision Dereck Lively being like Brook Lopez, someone who came into the league that wasn’t a 3-point shooter but could score on the interior, protect the rim, then develop that spacing ability later in his career,” said former NBA player JJ Reddick.

The Mavericks traded the No. 10 pick and forward Davis Bertans to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 12 pick used to take Lively II. Dallas freed $22 million in cap space and still drafted a player analysts herald as worthy of a top-10 selection.

“What an unbelievable set of moves for Dallas to trade down from No. 10 to No. 12, dump Davis Bertans’ contract and get Dereck Lively II,” said The Athletic’s John Hollinger. “Lively and Dallas is the most perfect fit on the draft board outside the top few picks, a high-flying, rim-running, shot-blocking center who doesn’t need the ball. What a perfect complement to Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving; and amazingly, they were able to dump Bertans’ salary and still walk away from the draft with Lively. Just A+ stuff.”

Even if Lively II doesn’t develop much of an offensive skill set, his defensive floor will be enough to earn playing time while the jump shot evolves.

“He could be Tyson Chandler, or he could be Willie Cauley-Stein,” said The Athletic’s Seth Davis. “He’s got the rim protection, super length, good quickness for his size. He has shown flashes of having a jump shot but needs to develop that. Tremendous athlete, can really run and jump. He didn’t have a big role offensively but it didn’t impact his effort level. Anybody you talk to in his life says the kid is in a really positive frame of mind. He could spend some time in the G League, but from everything I hear he’s one of those guys who’s grateful for any opportunity he gets. I’ve heard whispers about him being a good shooter, but I haven’t seen it yet.”