Dereck Lively II's recovery from a December foot surgery has kept him sidelined all offseason, and the young big man has not been cleared for the start of Dallas Mavericks training camp on Saturday, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. His status for the start of the regular season on October 21 is uncertain, and Lively's prospective spot in the starting five is now up in the air.
Dereck Lively II is Dallas' best center when healthy
While Dusty May or the Mavericks hadn't confirmed that Lively was the team's starter heading into training camp, it makes the most sense for him to be their starting big man. He was one of Dallas' most impactful players during their run to the NBA Finals in 2024, and his performance as a rookie gave the NBA world a glimpse at how dominant he can be when he's at his best.
The 7-foot-1 center averaged 7.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game for Dallas in the playoffs while shooting 67.4 percent from the field. His finishing above the rim and ability to anchor the defense became the calling cards of his game that season, but he has only played 43 of 162 possible games since that unforgettable playoff run.
His injuries have thrown a wrench into a promising start to his young career, and his absence leaves the starting center spot up for grabs. Among the best candidates for this job are Daniel Gafford and Morez Johnson Jr., and both players could make a case for why they should start.
Daniel Gafford's case to start is a given
For Gafford, his case is easy. He has already started 96 regular-season games for the Mavs, along with 22 playoff games. Gaff is the second-best center on the team behind Lively, and his experience in this position makes him the logical next man up while Lively recovers.
He is a strong rim protector and scorer inside, but unlike Lively, he is not a versatile defender. Gafford struggles to defend in space, and this could prove to be a problem when defending stretch bigs. He is much better as a drop defender in the pick and roll, and if the Mavs want versatility at the five, Johnson Jr. would be a great option.
Morez Johnson Jr. is the wild-card option that can't be overlooked
The former Michigan Wolverine averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game last season as a sophomore, and his game is all about hustle, energy, versatility, and defense. Not to say that Gafford doesn't bring those things, as he always packs a punch when he's on the floor, but these are the things that made Rez a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Johnson Jr.'s impact on winning under Dusty May at Michigan has been one of the main talking points about the 20-year-old big man since he was drafted, and Dallas hopes that he can carry this same effect into the NBA. He is a relentless rebounder and switchable defender who leaves his mark on the game with physicality, and May could look to start him in an effort to prioritize his development.
Gafford would likely be the safer option, but Johnson Jr. is seven years younger than Gafford and needs all of the playing time he can get. Dallas' young duo of Johnson Jr. and Cooper Flagg has the chance to be extremely dominant moving forward, especially defensively, and May throwing Morez into the fire right away may be the best way to get him accustomed to the NBA.
It's a shame that Dallas will be without Lively to start the season, but May has multiple options to pick from to anchor the defense. Johnson Jr. and Gafford are both strong choices, and May's choice here will say a lot about the team's vision moving forward.
