Overview
- Multiple reports in late July say Dallas held preliminary discussions with Dereck Lively II about a rookie-scale extension that must be completed the day before the 2026–27 regular season begins.
- Lively is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract and would become a restricted free agent next summer if no extension is signed by the October deadline.
- The talks come while Lively continues rehabilitation from right-foot and ankle problems that have required surgery and limited him to seven games in 2025–26.
- When healthy, Lively has shown high on-court value—All-Rookie second team honors, strong rim protection and very efficient shooting—which raises the chance his market value would jump after a healthy season.
- Dallas is weighing the trade-off between securing a cost-controlled, longer-term asset now and the risk of waiting and having to match an outside offer if Lively’s price increases.