The Dallas Mavericks have exercised the fourth-year team option on center Dereck Lively II, locking in his $7,239,130 salary for the 2026/27 campaign, the club announced.
The move keeps the 7-foot-1 big man on track to become eligible for a rookie-scale extension in the 2026 offseason. If no new deal is reached by then, he would enter restricted free agency in 2027.
Lively, 21, has averaged 8.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 23.4 minutes over his first two NBA seasons while shooting 72.9% from the field. Injuries have limited him to 91 total appearances (71 starts), including just 36 games (29 starts) during the 2024/25 season.
The former first-round pick underwent a procedure in July to remove bone spurs from his right foot but played in the preseason and is expected to be available for Wednesday’s season opener against San Antonio.
NBA teams must decide on all rookie-scale options for the 2026/27 season by Oct. 31.
Source: Hoops Rumors
