Breaking: Dallas Mavericks Lose Key Player to Season-Ending Surgery

The Dallas Mavericks might not be trading Anthony Davis so fast, after all. They have just learned that their young 7-footer Dereck Lively II will have season-ending surgery on his right foot.

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo season-ending right foot procedure to address lingering discomfort, sources tell me and Tim MacMahon. Lively, who played 7 games this season, is expected to make a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/OWWnqnS1lD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 10, 2025

Lively has played only seven games this season, in a situation that is all too familiar since the Mavs made him their first-round selection (12th overall) in the 2023 NBA Draft.

And for anyone questioning Davis's perpetual lack of availability, Lively almost makes AD seem like an iron man.

Since joining the league in 2023, Dereck Lively II has played just 98 games in 3 years.

2023-24: 55 games played
2024-25: 36 games played
2025-26: 7 games played

His career averages are: 8.4 PTS, 7 REB, 1.6 AST. pic.twitter.com/rG9g4Cfuv6
— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) December 10, 2025

Lively has played in just 98 games in his three years in the league. His other injuries have included a stress fracture in his right ankle, and surgery this past summer to remove bone spurs in his right foot.

The athletic, energetic center brings elite defense, specifically as a rim protector, while also being a strong finisher at the rim. He's still on his rookie-scale contract, for which Dallas has picked up the options for this year and next, before he's eligible for restricted free agency in 2027.

Thus far, in his limited action, he's averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds with 1.6 blocked shots per game through his 98 games.

Dallas also continues to be without Kyrie Irving, who isn't expected back until sometime in the new year, at the earliest.