Training camp has already handed Dusty May a messy little injury file, and the one that stands out most is Dereck Lively II.
May said Santi Aldama is still limited because of an issue that popped up before camp, though the problem is being treated as minor and he’s working on a restricted basis. Max Christie is also dealing with something, but the coach described it as nothing serious.
There’s better news on first-round pick Morez Johnson. May said he is moving closer to full participation after getting some limited work in practice.
“He’s had a little limited time in practice, but he’s working his way back,” May said, without detailing the issue. “He’s close.”
Johnson missed Dallas’ final three Summer League games in July because of an illness. Before that, he put up 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in a July loss to the Lakers.
The Mavericks selected him ninth overall in the 2026 draft after he played for May on Michigan’s national championship team. Last season at Michigan, after transferring from Illinois, Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 40 games.
The bigger concern, though, is Lively. May said the big man has been working away from practice on shooting and other non-basketball activities. Over the weekend, Lively was seen working with a trainer on those non-basketball drills, and the official line is that he is "jumping and running.''
That matters because Lively had season-ending foot surgery on Dec. 21 and then reportedly had a second procedure after that. He also was not cleared to work when camp opened.
“I’m sick of seeing things on the internet thinking, like, 'I can’t run, I can’t jump,' which I can,” Lively said via the Locked on Mavs podcast on Media Day. “I’m thankful for the Mavs just letting me take my time.”
Even with that reassurance, the video has raised fresh questions about where he stands physically. Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ president said at media day that restoring joy to basketball in Dallas is the priority, with the team focused on rebuilding its connection with fans.
In Other News...
Mavericks Face A Costly Roster Decision After Dwight Powell Return
Dwight Powell is back in the mix for Dallas, and the Mavericks are weighing whether to keep the longtime veteran on the regular-season roster. Powell has been a respected presence in the organization for years, but his role has steadily shrunk, and his return comes at a time when the roster is already crowded enough to force a hard choice.
The issue is less about Powells place in the room than the domino effect his spot would create. Dallas already has a full slate of standard contracts, and making room could push the front office toward an uncomfortable financial decision involving Caleb Martin, whose guaranteed deal gives the Mavericks little flexibility and a lot of incentive to think twice before making a move. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Leaves Mavs Waiting On The One Thing That Matters
Dereck Lively II is back around the Mavericks as training camp gets rolling, but he is still not a full participant while he continues to work his way back from foot surgery performed in December 2025. Dallas is taking the cautious route with its young center, a sensible approach given how much of his early career has already been shaped by foot issues and surgery.
For the Mavericks, the priority is bigger than getting Lively back on the floor right away. They want him healthy for the long haul, and that patience comes with the usual waiting game for everyone involved because there is no timetable yet for when he will return to normal basketball activities. In a camp built around preparation and progress, his status remains one of the clearest reminders that the most important update is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Washington Suddenly Feels Caught In Dallas New Direction
P.J. Washington arrived in Dallas as part of a clear win-now push, and the Mavericks backed that up by extending him after acquiring him in 2024. At the time, the move fit the kind of roster-building that suggested Dallas was trying to build around established pieces and keep pressing forward, with Washington giving the team a versatile frontcourt option that made sense in the moment.
Now the backdrop has changed almost completely. After trading Luka Doncic and pivoting toward a younger direction, the Mavericks are no longer operating with the same urgency that brought Washington in, and that leaves his place in the long view a little harder to pin down. He is still a useful player, but with the roster and timeline shifting around him, his future in Dallas feels less settled than it once did. [Read more 🡒]