The Dallas Mavericks and third-year center Dereck Lively II have started negotiating a rookie-scale contract extension, according to reporter Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Stein described the discussions as “early” and noted that the deadline for reaching an agreement is the day before the 2026-27 regular season tips off in October. If no deal is completed, the 22-year-old would enter restricted free agency next summer.
Lively’s injury history looms over the talks. The 7-footer has dealt with persistent issues in his right foot for roughly 19 months. He missed significant time in 2024-25 because of a stress fracture in the foot/ankle area and underwent right-foot surgery last July. Although cleared for opening night in 2025-26, he later sat out nine games with a right knee sprain and continued to feel discomfort in the same foot, leading to another surgery that ended his season in December.
As a result, Lively appeared in only seven games last season after logging 36 the previous year. He earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2023-24, averaging 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 74.5% from the field across 55 contests, including 42 starts (23.5 minutes per game).
The Duke product, selected 12th overall in the 2023 draft, also played a pivotal reserve role during Dallas’s run to the 2024 NBA Finals, contributing 7.9 points, 7.4 boards and 1.0 block over 21 playoff appearances (22.0 minutes).
Speaking in late June, Lively said he had progressed from a scooter to walking without crutches and was out of his boot, though he had yet to resume running or jumping. “I’m really just thankful for the small milestones,” he told DallasHoopsJournal.com’s Grant Afseth. Lively added that concerns about his durability do not bother him: “If I’ve got to take what the fans or the public have to say about me, that I’m brittle or all that, cool. But whenever I come back, don’t forget who I am.”
For now, both sides have roughly three months to determine whether a long-term pact can be finalized before the 2026-27 season begins.
Source: Hoops Rumors
