Thunder draft Dereck Lively at No. 12, ship him to Mavs
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Duke's Dereck Lively with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and traded him to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs sent the No. 10 pick, Cason Wallace, to the Thunder along with forward Davis Bertans for the No. 12 pick, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
One of the few true big men projected to go in the first round, Lively's game is simple, effective, and ever-growing. He's a pure rim-running center on offense and uses his huge arms to finish around the basket with elite efficiency. His shot-blocking prowess is just as notable, and he'll immediately slot in as one of the best rim-protectors in the Association.
Though Lively simply filled a role at Duke, there's potential for a meteoric rise. He flashed impressive athleticism in spurts, especially on defense when switched onto smaller, quicker players. That contributed to his being named ESPN's No. 1 high school prospect entering this season. Even if his offensive game never grows past the paint, his defensive versatility should lead to a bright future in the NBA.
Bio
Position: Center
School: Duke
College Experience: Freshman
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 230 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-7
Max Vertical: N/A
2022-23 stats with Duke
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 65.8 | 15.4 | 60.0 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 5.2 |
Strengths
- Terrific timing as a shot-blocker - ranked third nationally in block rate at 12.7%.
- Uses length to be an elite finisher around the basket, shooting an eye-popping 72% from inside the arc.
- Fantastic switch defender for his size when matched up with guards.
- Decent form on free throws and jumpers suggests potential in that area.
Weaknesses
- A nonfactor offensively outside of the paint.
- Could add some muscle to his massive frame.
- Needs to work on avoiding fouls: Lively averaged 5.3 fouls per 40 minutes at Duke.
- Struggles with consistency on a per-game basis.
NBA comparable: Robert Williams III. Though Lively's measurables compare more closely with a larger big man like Mitchell Robinson's, the Duke product's insanely long arms and fluid movements look most like Time Lord's. While both have trouble against certain lineups, there's no denying their respective effectiveness and efficiency on the floor.