The Dallas Mavericks have missed multiple key players for the entire season, and a trio of Duke Blue Devils should take the league by storm next season.
Historically, the Duke Blue Devils are one of the best teams in college basketball, and almost always have a top prospect in the NBA Draft. Between Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and the midseason addition of Marvin Bagley III, the Dallas Mavericks are building on the backs of the Blue Devils.
However, Irving and Lively II have been shut down for the season. Irving did not play a single game for the Mavericks, and Livley II appeared in only seven games at the start of the season before having foot surgery.
Thanks to nagging injuries and Daniel Gafford and Anthony Davis stealing some minutes, Livbley II averaged an underwhelming 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in his limited appearances, but he is poised to find success next season as a key running mate next to Flagg.
Dereck Lively II Previews Next Season
When he was drafted ninth overall out of Duke in 2023, Lively II immediately cemented himself as a key player in the Mavericks' rotation, being named to the All-Rookie team and was second only to Victor Wembanyama as the best big man in his draft class.
In the 2024 playoff run, Lively II gave Dallas some insurance when Daniel Gafford rested, and it was clear that he was the big man of the future. Since then, injuries have slowed him down and limited his playing time considerably, but he has his eyes on impacting winning next season.
"I just can't wait," Lively II told Mike Curtis of his return. "I can't wait to come and help my guys. Just take a little bit of pressure off them, make sure they have someone that has their back the entire way, and just go out there and do the best we can to win."
While Flagg and whoever Dallas drafts in 2026 will likely be the one-two punch of the future, Lively II brings rebounding, rim protection, and interior scoring that can't be understated. Despite only sharing the court for 83 minutes this season, he and Flagg have found success.
Their +5.8 points per 100 possessions is the best two-man lineup Flagg has had this season, and the four-man rotation of Lively II, Flagg, Max Christie, and PJ Washington is nearly unstoppable on both sides of the ball.
Add in a veteran point guard like Irving to run the offense and share the ball, and a healthy Mavericks' team should be able to make a playoff push next season, espcially with a top young talent scooped up in the NBA Draft.