Dallas Mavericks centre Dereck Lively II has not been medically cleared for the start of training camp as he continues his recovery from right-foot surgery.
Lively underwent season-ending surgery in December after appearing in just seven games during the 2025-26 season.
Dallas begins training camp on Saturday, but Lively's availability for the start of the regular season has yet to be determined.
There has been no reported setback in his rehabilitation. Lively is continuing to ramp up towards basketball activity, with the Mavericks reportedly not discouraged by his progress.
The 22-year-old has undergone two surgeries on his right foot in the past 14 months and has played just 43 games across the previous two seasons.
Lean Edge Thoughts...
The most important part of Dereck Lively II's latest injury update might be what hasn't happened.
There has been no reported setback.
That distinction matters because "not cleared for training camp" can sound much more alarming than the situation Dallas appears to be dealing with.
Lively is still progressing. The Mavericks are reportedly not discouraged. His rehabilitation continues.
But there is another reality Dallas can no longer ignore.
Availability is becoming part of the Lively conversation.
The Mavericks saw exactly what he could become during their run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
As a rookie, Lively gave Dallas vertical spacing, rim protection, mobility and an ability to finish around the basket that made him an almost ideal modern centre alongside elite perimeter creators.
There were moments when it looked as though Dallas had found its centre for the next decade.
The problem has been keeping him on the floor.
Lively has played only 43 games over the past two seasons. His right foot has now required two operations in approximately 14 months. Last season ended after only seven appearances.
Nine months after his latest surgery, he still isn't cleared for training camp.
None of that means Lively cannot eventually put these problems behind him.
He's only 22.
But Dallas is approaching the point where potential and availability have to be considered together.
That becomes particularly important because Lively is entering the final season of his rookie contract.
When healthy, there is an obvious argument for making him part of the Mavericks' long-term core.
Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg, and a healthy Lively still possesses many of the characteristics that could make him an excellent frontcourt partner in that project.
But the word "healthy" is doing increasingly heavy lifting in that sentence.
Dallas doesn't need Lively to win training camp.
It doesn't need him playing meaningless preseason minutes simply to prove that his rehabilitation is progressing.
What it needs is for this recovery to finally produce something much more valuable: sustained availability.
LEAN EDGE VERDICT
There is no reason for Dallas to rush Dereck Lively II back simply because training camp is beginning.
If another few weeks produces a healthier player for the rest of the season, patience is an easy decision.
The bigger concern is the pattern.
Two right-foot surgeries in 14 months and only 43 appearances across two seasons is significant for any player, particularly a 7-foot-1 centre whose game depends heavily on mobility and explosiveness.
Lively's talent hasn't disappeared.
The Mavericks simply need to start seeing it on the court often enough for talent to matter.
