How Mavs Rookie Dereck Lively II Can Win Starting Center Job

Could rookie Dereck Lively be the solution to a troubled Dallas Mavs defense?

For the Dallas Mavericks to make noise once again in the playoff race, a change must be made, and with two perennial All-Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving heading up the backcourt, where else is there to change but the frontcourt?

Enter Dereck Lively II, coming off an impressive season with the Duke Blue Devils. The 7-1 center brings his 7-7 wingspan into the paint, where he sends shots away at an impressive clip (2.4 blocks per game). With his size and athletic ability, he would seem to be a welcome change to a squad that has lacked both in recent years.

But why would head coach  Jason Kidd take him over the ol’ reliable Dwight Powell? Powell is entering his 10th season in Dallas, and has been a consistent weapon behind Luka Doncic. Powell's ability to see the floor also makes him a solid playmaker when needed. 

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Consequently, Lively, it would seem, has his work cut out for him. Fortunately, the rookie seems to know what he's lacking, and his focus is on fixing it.

“My focus is on getting the ball-handlers and our scorers open, and doing that is going to make my job easier," he said on our Mavs Step Back Podcast.

"That's something that's circled on my board – to be a starter for the Mavs. That's something I'm definitely not at right now, but I'm scraping away, getting closer and closer each day. But I'm not there now, so that just means I've gotta keep working so I can get to it and get better."

In his draft comparison, many were likening Lively to the likes of Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, a player known for getting boards and shutting down the paint. In our opinion, that's exactly what Lively gives the Mavericks, and luckily, that's exactly what they need. 

With a few adjustments in training camp, Lively might be the big man this Dallas team needs to restore its position in the playoffs, and possibly another Western Conference Finals appearance.

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