12-01-2025, 02:47 PM
I think what you're saying is that the long-term future with Lively is very uncertain, and it's not smart to stake out a position yet on what needs to be done with him. Either way.
If so, that's my thinking too. I'm in no rush to write him off or trade him, but I'm also not convinced he's going to be a MAJOR part of the solution in the long term. There's a lot of "wait and see" with me.
Where I could be conflicted [I don't think this will happen, but what if ...] would be what if --
1 Lively returns in January or sooner, and is the very best version of himself for the rest of the season -- which would mean he's fully healthy, playing every game (or very close to it, with a rest game on a B2B at some points), playing 20-25 mpg, and really great defense, AND
2 At draft time 2026, a team with a TOP FIVE pick comes hard to trade for him, offering their top 5 pick plus a player (salary match or cheaper) who is very usable, preferably young. I wouldn't be interested in a future pick(s) which could turn out to be junk, but if it's a top pick in THIS draft, already set, then do you say no? That would be hard to let him go in that context of him being healthy and playing great, but at the same time, in light of the track record, wouldn't that be the very definition of selling high (and before having to agonize on an extension)?
If so, that's my thinking too. I'm in no rush to write him off or trade him, but I'm also not convinced he's going to be a MAJOR part of the solution in the long term. There's a lot of "wait and see" with me.
Where I could be conflicted [I don't think this will happen, but what if ...] would be what if --
1 Lively returns in January or sooner, and is the very best version of himself for the rest of the season -- which would mean he's fully healthy, playing every game (or very close to it, with a rest game on a B2B at some points), playing 20-25 mpg, and really great defense, AND
2 At draft time 2026, a team with a TOP FIVE pick comes hard to trade for him, offering their top 5 pick plus a player (salary match or cheaper) who is very usable, preferably young. I wouldn't be interested in a future pick(s) which could turn out to be junk, but if it's a top pick in THIS draft, already set, then do you say no? That would be hard to let him go in that context of him being healthy and playing great, but at the same time, in light of the track record, wouldn't that be the very definition of selling high (and before having to agonize on an extension)?
![[-]](https://www.mavsboard.com/images/collapse.png)