Injuries have been plaguing the Dallas Mavericks over the past few seasons. They hardly had enough guys to play for them during the stretch run in 2024-25. This time through, the same problems have been presenting themselves.
Kyrie Irving is still recovering from a serious injury suffered last season, with his return to play very much still up in the air. Anthony Davis has played just a handful of games. And now, things will go from bad to worse.
Dereck Lively, who missed 46 games last year and 26 the season before, will be shut down for the remainder of 2025-26, per Shams Charania.
The third-year center has hardly been available, yet to even reach 100 career games. But with his energy now missing from the lineup, some decisions will have to be made.
Daniel Gafford and AD will likely hold the position down for now, until any other moves are made.
Dereck Lively Unable to Catch a Break
Health has not been the name of the game for Mavs big man Dereck Lively since he first entered the league. Playing a key role in the 2024 Finals run, he has been unable to stay on the floor since.
During that first year, the big fella had a game that no other teenager had replicated before him. The potential was flashed long before the playoff run, but injuries have plagued him since.
Having a mobile lob threat in today’s game is a luxury that not every team has. The one inDallas will be shelved until the beginning of next season, now. Though he was only averaging four points and five rebounds per night, the energy that Lively was bringing is something that will be missed through the end of this year.
The good news for the Mavs is that Lively still has another year on his contract. When he does come back to begin the 2026-27 campaign, he will assuredly still be playing a key role here. He will still be just 23 years of age at the end of next season when he hits restricted free agency for the first time.
Making Sense of Updated Center Position In Dallas
As Dereck Lively will see his season cut short of course, the veterans on the team project to be the first two centers to grab the extra minutes.
Anthony Davis is the most likely candidate to be remain as the starting center for the Dallas Mavericks in the interim. Daniel Gafford, who has come off the bench for the team’s last few games, assumes to stay in that role.
Two-way rookie Moussa Cisse, who was undrafted, has earned some minutes, too. Cisse is one of two undrafted rookies on the team that has started this season, joining breakout star Ryan Nembhard. He figures to remain as a depth big, alongside veteran Dwight Powell.
Perhaps Davis will be moved, and if that does happen, it will surely shift the depth chart around. Cooper Flagg is very clearly the small forward of the future. The rookie opened the year as the primary point guard, but was clearly more comfortable in the positio nhe primarily played in college.
Time will tell what the situation here becomes. As it stands today, Flagg is balling. Nembhard looks sensational. And the wins have finally started coming.
Get well soon, Dereck Lively.
Mavericks to be Without Key Starter for Rest of Season