The Mavericks are in no hurry to lock up Dereck Lively II, and that might be the smartest move they can make right now.
Dallas faces an October 19 deadline to sign Lively to a rookie-scale extension, but the current buzz points in a different direction. Recent reporting suggests the Mavericks are more likely to hold off than hand the young big man a new deal before the deadline passes.
NBA insider Marc Stein discussed the looming rookie-scale contract extension deadline (subscription required), saying the most likely players from the 2023 class to be extended next "are No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller (Charlotte), No. 6 Anthony Black (Orlando), No.
10 Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City) and No. 19 Brandin Podziemski (Golden State)."
Stein also reported that the Portland Trail Blazers and Scoot Henderson have shared interest in an extension, as well as the Washington Wizards and Bilal Coulibaly. Lively and the Mavericks were not among the names he listed.
That fits the way Dallas appears to be handling things. Several players from the 2023 draft class have already landed extensions, including Victor Wembanyama, Keyonte George, Amen Thompson, and Ausar Thompson. Lively, though, has played just 43 games over the past two seasons, and the Mavericks seem content to take the patient route rather than make a commitment now.
There’s another major reason for the wait: Lively still has not been cleared to practice after foot surgery in December. His return to the floor could still be some time away, and signing him before seeing how that foot responds would carry real risk.
For Dallas, delaying the decision keeps the door open. The team can evaluate how Lively looks once he returns, monitor the foot, and avoid making a long-term call until after the season. He would then reach restricted free agency after the 2026-27 season, giving the Mavericks the right to match any outside offer.
The downside of rushing is obvious. If Dallas gave Lively an extension now and he ran into another major injury, that would be a brutal outcome. Waiting lets the Mavericks see how he recovers, how the rest of the frontcourt develops, and how he fits once he’s back on the floor.
That evaluation matters even more because Dusty May gets a chance to see how Lively fits his scheme and how he wants to play. Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg, and Lively looks like a strong fit on paper, but the two former Duke Blue Devils have only shared the floor in six games as Mavericks teammates.
So for now, the Mavericks are taking the same approach with Lively’s future that they’re taking with his return: no rush, no panic, and no long-term promise before the recovery is proven.
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