Trade idea sends Mavericks rising star to NBA Finals competitor

Dereck Lively II could leave the Dallas Mavericks for a championship contender.

Apr 18, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) and center Dereck Lively II (2) waits for play to start prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks could be making a trade or two this offseason to retool after missing the playoffs this season.

The Mavs are a year removed from the NBA Finals, so they shouldn't be looking at a hard reset, but rather a swap that keeps them in the mix in the Western Conference.

Bleacher Report writer Grant Hughes suggested a potential trade with Dereck Lively II leaving the Mavs for the Indiana Pacers.

READ MORE: Cooper Flagg's pre-NBA Draft visit schedule revealed

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II dunks during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Could Lively be traded to Pacers?

"Dereck Lively II played only 36 games due to injury this past season, but he was an integral piece of a Mavs team that made the 2024 Finals. His mobility in space is uncommon for a 7-footer, and he'd be a major upgrade as an offensive rebounder, lob-catcher and shot-blocker over anything the Pacers currently have," Hughes wrote.

"He also made sneaky growth as a passer, jumping up to the 93rd percentile among bigs in assist-to-usage ratio this past season. That would play well in Indiana's movement-heavy attack.

"The Mavericks have a logjam up front, so perhaps the Pacers could entice them into a trade by offering Bennedict Mathurin, a shoot-first guard whose skills Dallas needs more than Indiana does."

The Pacers could still win the NBA Finals, so it's hard to see them making a big change like this during the offseason.

Lively could make sense as a trade piece for the Mavs with Anthony Davis on the roster. The Mavs like Davis as a power forward, but with Cooper Flagg coming into the building, it may make more sense for him to be in that spot.

Getting an offensive-minded guard could help the Mavs become a more well-rounded team as they look to get back in the contender conversation.

READ MORE: Paige Bueckers, former Mavs scorned star to attend Cooper Flagg draft party

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