Dereck Lively II Season Ending Foot Surgery Stuns Mavericks

The Mavericks announced Wednesday that center Dereck Lively II will have season ending foot surgery and is expected back at 100 percent before next training camp. Interim GM Matt Riccardi said "Dereck has handled every challenge of this season with professionalism and resilience." Lively battled a knee sprain earlier and returned only to suffer swelling in the same troublesome right foot. At 9 and 16 and sitting 11th in the West, Dallas loses a young rim presence at a time Kyrie Irving is still out recovering from a torn ACL. Merlin sees the court tilt. Without Lively the Mavericks get thinner inside, forcing more minutes at center and pushing the front office to consider a big move. If Dallas stays on the playoff bubble as the Feb 5 trade deadline nears, the team may chase a proven star to shore up defense and close games.