The Dallas Mavericks have exercised their fourth-year option on Dereck Lively II’s rookie-scale contract, the team announced Monday.
This move locks in Lively’s $7.23 million salary for the 2026-27 season. He’ll now be eligible for a rookie-scale extension next summer.
Lively, just 21, is heading into his third season with the Mavs. His four-year, $22.28 million rookie deal includes team options for the final two seasons. Dallas already picked up his 2025-26 option last October.
The 7-foot-1 center was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft after playing at Duke.
He made quite an impression as a rookie, finishing sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. Lively averaged 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in 55 games last season, starting in 42 of them.
But staying healthy has been a challenge.
In July, Lively had surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right foot. The injury limited him to just 36 games last season, with doctors putting his foot in a boot after the procedure.
Despite missing 36 straight games, he still managed to post solid numbers. Lively averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting an impressive 70.2% from the field.
He recorded eight double-doubles and dropped a season-high 21 points against Portland in January.
New Role Coming?
The Mavs might have something interesting planned for Lively this season.
During top draft pick Cooper Flagg’s press conference, team minority owner Mark Cuban hinted at a major change in Lively’s role. The big man could transform into a modern “stretch five” center.
“Mark Cuban just talked about Dereck Lively II potentially taking 2-3 threes per game next season and giving Dallas the ability to play five-out,” Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban posted on X in July.
This would be a dramatic shift for Lively. He’s only attempted two three-pointers in regular-season games during his entire NBA career. His only made three came during Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
The strategy makes sense on paper, but Lively needs to stay healthy first.
He’s not the only Maverick dealing with health issues. All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is still recovering from a torn ACL that will keep him sidelined until at least January 2026. Superstar forward Anthony Davis also had an eye procedure over the summer.
The Mavericks open their 2025-26 season at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
