MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

On another note, has there been any news on Lively's status? Does he project to be ready to go this fall? I know foot injuries can take a long time to heal, but it would be interesting to know how he's progressing.

Mavericks' nightmare injury scenario is already taking shape after disastrous season


"I don't know when or what to expect D-Live right now," Kidd said when asked if Lively II would be back by training camp. "He's off the crutches. Hopefully soon we'll be in two shoes. I know that sounds kinda funny, but he's still in a boot...And then I think having that process of getting on the court, and hopefully he's ready for training camp, but medically I can't give you the answer today because I don't know."

[michaeltex]

Mavericks' nightmare injury scenario is already taking shape after disastrous season


"I don't know when or what to expect D-Live right now," Kidd said when asked if Lively II would be back by training camp. "He's off the crutches. Hopefully soon we'll be in two shoes. I know that sounds kinda funny, but he's still in a boot...And then I think having that process of getting on the court, and hopefully he's ready for training camp, but medically I can't give you the answer today because I don't know."

Well, that's depressing.

[Chicagojk]

There has been whispers about this so really not totally surprising. I wouldn’t take too much what Kidd says though. It is a fact he has been on crutches or a boot since the surgery. So it has been a while.

Regardless, even if healthy next year, he should not be factored in as a starter. He is going to need time. I think 20 minutes a night and no back to backs. Hopefully with time and health that can be extended. Due to injury and mistakes by the Mavs, it has pretty much ruined two seasons from him. Getting a competent staff and really monitoring his minutes will be key. I think best case for him and Kyrie that you are happy if they play 60 games in a season. Mavs will need to be mindful of that when building the team back up.

[KillerLeft]

Well, that's depressing.

What's depressing for me is that we'll never know how differently the last two years would've gone for Lively (and potentially the rest of his career, even) if Harrison hadn't made drastic and unnecessary changes to the team's medical staff, which by all accounts seems to have been one of the best around. I have never experienced two more snake-bitten, injury-riddled seasons as a Mavs fan, and it's tough at this point to remember what a relatively healthy season even looks like.

[FireNicoHarrison]

D-Live is almost done.
Not much hope in him honestly.

[DallasMaverick]

D-Live is almost done.
Not much hope in him honestly.

"What have you done for me lately?"

[dirkfansince1998]

To give the entire situation a positive spin. Lively's injury could also create a unique opportunity for a cheap extension. Prior to his injury I expected him to land in the ~30m range. That's obviously not the case right now.
Would be a risk and looking at the Mavs recent track record when it comes to rookie contract extensions (Brunson, Green) I don't trust them to make the right call. But who knows. New GM, new medical staff, hopefully a new coaching staff. Can only get better so I might as well hold on to the hope that whoever is in charge makes the right call.

[F Gump]

Lively's injury could also create a unique opportunity for a cheap extension. 

I doubt it. Any number low enough for the Mavs to consider will be wayyyyyyyyy too low for Lively to accept. Even a contract in 2027 will be tough to agree on.

[Mavs2021]

I doubt it. Any number low enough for the Mavs to consider will be wayyyyyyyyy too low for Lively to accept. Even a contract in 2027 will be tough to agree on.

He´s been injured almost two years. He is a RFA. Free agency in the summer is basically dead. Mavs have all the leverage here. 

All that being said I expect to see him on opening night. Everything else would be a borderline career ending signal to me. 

This is another reason to get a new GM/President of Basketball Operation in place asap, so they can replace the medical chump, evaluate Lively properly and make a decision on a favorable, for both sides, early extension.

[DallasMaverick]

I doubt it. Any number low enough for the Mavs to consider will be wayyyyyyyyy too low for Lively to accept. Even a contract in 2027 will be tough to agree on.

Maybe a Zion-like contract that’s predicated on games played?

[Mavs2021]

So the teams that activated stupid mode in the last week just lost their coin tosses: Mavs and Kings. If they end up picking 9th instead of 6th or 7th, cause these fools needed to win the Lakers game, they either win the lottery or the new outside GM fires Kidd. I´m too old for another 15 years of Cuban dumbfuckery.

[F Gump]

Maybe a Zion-like contract that’s predicated on games played?

The Zion contract clause was eye-catching and supposedly clever, yet for NO it proved essentially worthless. Mavs doing something similar would be just as stupid. In Zion's deal, it required NO to waive him (which they could not afford talent-wise) to give any penalty for his missing games. Zion has been the same player all the way, still missing games all the time, yet NO has ended up paying him 100% of that max deal. 

With Lively, at some point the Mavs have to be decisive, one way or the other, about what Lively's future will be, and then act accordingly. Playing what-if games won't get them anywhere. 

So I don't see any chance for a contract done this summer. The Mavs can't smartly offer him a big enough number that he will sign. They will have to either decide to trade him (but his trade value is probably quite low) or wait a year and see how reliable he is, before then doing a deal or moving on. I think we will see them kick the can down the road, and try to get value from him this year and see how it goes.