NBA Draft Scouting Report: Duke's Dereck Lively II
In this story:
Dereck Lively II
Center | Duke
Height: 7'1” | Weight: 215 lbs
2023 Draft Age: 19.35
© Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
After being ranked as the top player in his high school class, Lively had big expectations as a freshman at Duke. He’s a great athlete with incredible size, with the upside to be one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA at some point, which is why he was rated so highly coming into college.
Lively is a smooth center that’s very springy. He’s a huge lob threat and good rim runner that also is effective in the pick-and-roll. Late in his high school career, Lively expanded his game to fit the modern NBA and started to knock down shots from beyond the arc. While he typically attempts those shots from the top of the key or corner, he’s continuing to become more reliable as a shooter from deep overall. He’s still got a long way to go, but defenses at least have to respect his shot when he catches on the perimeter.
When he’s not shooting from outside, the Duke freshman dunks nearly everything. With that in mind, he’s got great touch and can use both hands well around the rim. Like many centers, he’s not a guy you run your offense through but is a complimentary piece on that end.
Lively has improved as an offensive prospect over the past few years, but wasn't all that assertive at Duke this season. That's the biggest question mark for him, as that side of the ball left a lot to be desired. Can he emerge as a player that can truly be dominant on both ends?
On the defensive side of the ball, the 7-footer is incredible. He’s a great rim protector that has natural feel and good instincts as it relates to blocking shots. He can truly change the game on the defensive end, which we saw numerous times during his freshman season.
He’s arguably the best defender in this class as a rim protector, but there are things he can still improve upon. Most notably, due to his slender frame Lively struggles one-one-one against bigger, more physical centers. He’ll need to get stronger this season before making the jump to the NBA.
On the flip side, he’s special relative to true centers as it relates to defending smaller guys on the perimeter. It’s pretty rare to see a 7-footer that isn’t a liability taking on guards that far from the rim. Lively’s ability to defend outside of the paint allows his team to switch anything.
It was fascinating to see Lively at Duke this season alongside another first-round talent in freshman Kyle Filipowski. Whether it ended up being good or bad for his long-term outlook, seeing him play alongside another 7-footer at times resulted in interesting data points.
Lively was a member of the 2022 USA Nike Hoop Summit Team that beat the World Select Team. He was also the 2022 Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys Basketball Player of the Year. His mother played basketball at Penn State before going professional overseas. She’s also spent quite a bit of time coaching, which is likely another reason Lively is such a smart player.
Due to his age and defensive upside, Lively will be taken in the first round even if he had an underwhelming overall season. He could be a project that pays off for a team in a big way.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Mid to Late First-Round Pick in 2023 NBA Draft.
2023 Big Board
Want to know more about other potential 2023 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Pro Big Board.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
For a free account and access to Cerebro Sports, the largest Basketball Player Database in the world, sign up here.