Mavs Targeting Dereck Lively II Barring Trade, Says NBA Draft Insider

One NBA Draft insider reports the Mavs' plan to select former Duke center Dereck Lively II using the 10th pick if a trade doesn't transpire.

DALLAS — The 2023 NBA Draft is quickly nearing as it's set to be hosted on June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The stakes are high for the Dallas Mavericks using the 10th pick to continue to build around Luka Doncic and impending free agent Kyrie Irving. 

There is a significant expectation that the Mavs will trade the 10th pick from many top NBA insiders. However, making an aggressive push to trade a draft choice requires a worthwhile return to facilitate. What is Dallas likely to do if a trade doesn't transpire?

According to Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board, the Mavs are shopping the 10th pick for an established veteran that can help with rebounding and defense or a 3-and-D wing. However, if a deal doesn't transpire, Derek Lively II from Duke is a prospect to watch closely as being the team's selection. 

"It’s believed if Dallas can’t strike a deal for a 3-and-D wing or a rim protector, Lively will be its choice to fill a massive hole in the middle and help a Mavericks team whose starting center averaged 4.1 rebounds per game last season," Barlowe wrote.

Lively, who played one season at Duke, is a 7-1 center with a staggering 7-7 wingspan, and has become a riser on draft boards as of late. He started 27 of 34 games for the Blue Devils and averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game. He shot 65.8 percent from the floor, 72.1 percent on 2s, 15.4 percent on 3s, and 60 percent on free throws.

When identifying a top option for the Mavs using the 10th pick, Barlowe recommended Lively as an option during an appearance on "'Inside The Mavs' with Grant Afseth and Kevin Gray" last month.

"If I'm Nico Harrison at number 10, I'm going with Dereck Lively," Barlowe said.

The Mavs' top communicated priorities for roster improvement include defense and rebounding. The team finished 25th in defensive rating and 30th in total rebounding percentage last season. With Christian Wood and Dwight Powell both being impending free agents, Dallas seeks to "remake" the center position.

"I think for us going into the offseason, the two biggest things that we need to work on is defense and rebounding," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said during his exit interview. "That's going to be addressed."

As confirmed by Harrison after the NBA Draft Lottery when asked by DallasBasketball.com, the Mavs view on-ball defense and rim protection as being specific needs to address this offseason. By selecting Lively, the goal would be that he lives up to those Tyson Chandler comparisons that some are attributing to him. 

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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