New footage raises questions about Dereck Lively II’s mobility as coach Dusty May navigates training camp setbacks for Santi Aldama and first-round standout Morez Johnson.
The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and all that junk.
But right now, there are a few members of the Dallas Mavs who are prepared to do neither.
Mavericks coach Dusty May recently went through his injury update checklist ... and one media outlet has contributed some information to that checklist that some might find alarming.
First, to new coach May's summation ...
He said Santi Aldama remained limited due to an apparently minor issue that occured before camp, adding that Aldama is working on a limited basis.
Max Christie is apparently banged up but again, nothing serious.
First-round draft pick Morez Johnson is getting closer to full participation.
“He’s had a little limited time in practice, but he’s working his way back,” May said, without detailing the issue. “He’s close.”
Johnson missed the Mavericks’ final three Summer League games in July with an illness. Before that, he had 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in a July loss to the Lakers.
Dallas took Johnson ninth overall in the 2026 draft. He had played for May on Michigan’s national championship team. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 40 games for the Wolverines last season after transferring from Illinois.
And then there is the case of Dereck Lively II.
Lively, according to the coach, has been putting in work outside of practice and shooting. Over the weekend, Lively was seen worked with a trainer on non-basketball activities during practice, with the official word being that he is "jumping and running.''
But ...
Lively, who had season-ending foot surgery on Dec. 21 and then a reported second procedure after that, was not cleared to work to start camp.
And now comes a video that seems to demonstrate that he's not exactly even "light jogging'' quite yet ...
“I’m sick of seeing things on the internet thinking, like, 'I can’t run, I can’t jump,' which I can,” Lively said via the Locked on Mavs podcast on Media Day. “I’m thankful for the Mavs just letting me take my time.”
Based on this video, the Mavs don't seem to have any other choice.
