Dereck Lively II

Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said Dereck Lively II (foot) is "making good progress" in his recovery.

Fantasy Impact

Lively underwent season-ending surgery in December after playing in just seven games last season. His status for the start of this season remains uncertain.

Dereck Lively II has not yet been cleared to run.

Fantasy Impact

Lively is no longer in a boot following his season-ending surgery last year. He has resumed walking, just not running yet. "I’m taking even more time than I need to make sure I don’t ever have to deal with this foot again," he said.

Derek Lively II (foot) will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.

Fantasy Impact

Lively played in only seven games this season, and was without a timetable to return with discomfort lingering in his foot. He is expected to make a full recovery. In the meantime, Dallas will continue to patch things together at center.

Dereck Lively II (foot) is currently without a timetable for his return.

Fantasy Impact

The big man is struggling to recover from his foot injury and is seeking multiple medical opinions for it. He is still without a timetable for his recovery, which means that Dwight Powell and Naji Marshall will continue to benefit from his extended absence for the foreseeable future.

Swelling and discomfort in his right foot will force Dereck Lively II to the sidelines for at least the next three games. The Mavericks announced Tuesday that they will re-evaluate the center in seven-to-ten days, a timeline that aligns with earlier reports from insider Marc Stein regarding fears of an extended absence.

Fantasy Impact

This setback is particularly concerning as the symptoms have flared up in the same foot that required surgery during the offseason. While a return on December 3 represents the best-case scenario, fantasy managers should brace for the possibility of a longer recovery period. With Lively unavailable, Daniel Gafford is positioned to see a significant boost in usage and fantasy appeal.