Dereck Lively II to Miss Rest of Season; Foot Surgery Scheduled
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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo surgery on his right foot and is expected to sit out the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon reported Wednesday.
The Mavericks confirmed the decision, adding that the 21-year-old is projected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next fall.
Lively’s foot problems date to January, when he suffered a fracture in the foot/ankle area. He missed more than two months, then had surgery in July in an effort to resolve the issue. Although cleared for opening night, the 7-footer later sat out nine games in October and November with a right knee sprain and has dealt with persistent foot discomfort since.
According to MacMahon, Lively obtained second and third medical opinions before electing for another procedure.
The No. 12 pick in the 2023 draft has appeared in just 98 regular-season contests, including seven this year, totaling 2,242 minutes—fewer than 51 NBA players logged in 2024-25 alone. When available, he has averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 22.9 minutes while shooting 72.5% from the field. He also contributed 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game during Dallas’s run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
With Lively sidelined, Dallas is expected to rely on Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford up front, while veterans Dwight Powell and two-way center Moussa Cisse provide depth. Forward P.J. Washington could see minutes at small-ball center if needed.
The surgery means Lively will become eligible for a rookie-scale extension in the 2026 offseason without playing another game. Absent an agreement before the 2026-27 season, he would enter restricted free agency in 2027.
Dallas is expected to apply for a disabled player exception worth $2,626,680—half of Lively’s $5,253,360 salary—but the move would not allow the club to exceed its second-apron hard cap. The Mavericks are currently about $1.29 million below that threshold.
Source: Hoops Rumors
