RADIO
Dereck Lively II Ruled Out Against Indiana
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup with Indiana, keeping him sidelined after his last appearance came Nov. 21, 2025. Lively underwent right foot surgery in December and remains without a clear return timeline. Team president Masai Ujiri recently said the 22-year-old has progressed to shooting and is working toward running, while head coach Dusty May described his return-to-play plan as somewhat unique. Lively was limited to seven games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 16.4 minutes. With Lively and Santi Aldama (knee) both unavailable, rookie Morez Johnson Jr. should have a chance to stay involved in the frontcourt rotation.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Daniel Gafford Adds Three-Point Shot in Camp
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has the freedom to take rhythm threes this season, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Head coach Dusty May said that freedom will continue "as long as he continues to earn the right," noting that Gafford went 1-for-1 from deep during live play Sunday. The 27-year-old has taken just one three-pointer in his NBA career, so any success from deep would be a bonus rather than something to count on. Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.7 minutes last season, and those are still the areas that matter most for fantasy. With Dereck Lively II (foot) working his way back and Morez Johnson Jr. also in the frontcourt mix, Gafford's playing time remains the bigger question mark.
Source: Mike Curtis
Source: Mike Curtis
Dwight Powell Returns to Mavericks on One-Year Deal
The Dallas Mavericks signed center Dwight Powell to a one-year, $3.88 million deal, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. The contract includes $1 million guaranteed and another $500,000 if he makes the opening-night roster. Dallas now has 16 players on standard contracts competing for 15 spots, leaving Powell with work to do in camp. The 35-year-old averaged 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds on 64.4 percent shooting across 63 games last season. Even with Dereck Lively II (foot) sidelined, Daniel Gafford, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, and Moussa Cisse leave Dallas with plenty of frontcourt depth. Powell remains off the fantasy radar.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Dereck Lively II Not Cleared for Mavericks Training Camp
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (foot) has not been cleared for training camp as he continues to recover from December surgery, according to Tim MacMahon. The 22-year-old has not suffered a setback and is slowly ramping up toward basketball activity, but his status for the start of the season remains uncertain. Lively played only seven games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 16.4 minutes. He has appeared in just 98 games across his first three seasons. With Santi Aldama, Daniel Gafford, and Moussa Cisse also in the center mix, Lively may have to work his way back into a sizable role. His shot-blocking upside remains appealing, but the health concerns make him more of a late-round stash.
Source: Tim MacMahon
Source: Tim MacMahon
Dwight Powell Expected to Join Mavericks Camp
Free-agent center Dwight Powell is expected to receive a formal training camp invitation from the Dallas Mavericks, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The 35-year-old joined the Kyrie Irving-led minicamp in Los Angeles this week after averaging 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes across 63 games last season. Dallas already has 15 players on standard contracts, leaving Powell without a clear path to the opening-night roster. The Mavericks also have Daniel Gafford, Santi Aldama (knee), Moussa Cisse, and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. in the frontcourt, while Dereck Lively II (foot) works back from surgery. Powell carries little fantasy appeal, while Lively's recovery is the bigger situation to watch in camp.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Daniel Gafford Remains on Trade Radar
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford remains a trade candidate. Heavy's Sean Deveney reported, via Grant Afseth of Roundtable, that Dallas hopes to land a first-round pick for both Gafford and P.J. Washington. Gafford is owed $17.26 million this season on a three-year, $54.38 million extension that includes a 5 percent trade kicker. The 27-year-old averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.7 minutes across 55 games last season while shooting 65.5 percent from the field. Dereck Lively II (foot) still lacks a firm return timeline, so Gafford opens camp with a clean path to blocks, boards, and elite field-goal percentage. A trade could raise his minutes ceiling, but Dallas' crowded frontcourt with Lively, Santi Aldama, and Morez Johnson Jr. keeps some role risk attached.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Santi Aldama Sits Out Spain Qualifiers
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Santi Aldama will sit out Spain's upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window as he continues working back from right knee surgery. The Spanish Basketball Federation announced that Aldama will miss training camp and the games against Portugal and Greece, with both sides deciding not to rush his recovery before his first season in Dallas. The 25-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists and shot 35.0 percent from three across 43 games last season. The fantasy appeal is real if the minutes are there, but Dallas' frontcourt is crowded, with Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington absorbing forward minutes while Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II handle the middle, leaving Aldama's role as the key swing factor.
Source: Basketnews
Source: Basketnews
P.J. Washington Confident He Stays in Dallas
Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington expects to open the season in Dallas despite spending much of the offseason in trade rumors. In an interview with DLLS Mavs' Kevin Gray Jr., Washington said he is "super confident" he will be a Maverick on Opening Night after long talks with team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz. Marc Stein previously reported that Washington was among the veterans Dallas was viewed as open to trading, but the 27-year-old sounds committed to staying put. Washington averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season, giving him useful category appeal if the minutes hold. A forward-heavy roster built around Cooper Flagg and recently extended Naji Marshall could still squeeze his ceiling, but Washington remains a viable late-round fantasy piece if he keeps a steady role.
Source: Kevin Gray Jr.
Source: Kevin Gray Jr.
Dereck Lively II Making Progress in Foot Recovery
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II is making progress in his recovery from season-ending right foot surgery, with general manager Mike Schmitz saying Lively has been "working his tail off" and staying locked in around the facility. The 2023 No. 12 pick said in June that he was out of the boot and crutches and back in normal shoes, but later reports noted he still had not progressed to running. Lively appeared in only seven games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He remains a high-upside rim runner and shot blocker when healthy, but Daniel Gafford is the safer fantasy bet until Lively's timeline gets clearer. Morez Johnson Jr. adds another frontcourt body if the ramp-up drags.
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Dereck Lively II Talks Extension with Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II and the team have held early-stage talks on a possible rookie-scale extension, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. The number is tough to project after the 22-year-old played only seven games last season before undergoing season-ending right foot surgery. When healthy, Lively has been a high-efficiency rim runner and shot blocker, with career averages of 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 72.5 percent from the field. His lob finishing and rim protection fit cleanly alongside Cooper Flagg, but Dallas has reason to remain patient under Masai Ujiri, especially with Daniel Gafford still in the frontcourt picture. Lively carries blocks-and-boards upside, though his recovery is the swing factor.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Mavericks Seek First-Rounder for Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Daniel Gafford remains available for the right price, with Evan Sidery reporting that Dallas is seeking a protected first-round pick in a deal. The 27-year-old is signed through 2028-29 at roughly $18.1 million annually, so Dallas does not have to dump him. Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 21.7 minutes last season while shooting 65.5% from the field, keeping him useful as a low-usage fantasy center. A trade would likely hurt Dereck Lively II's insurance value less than it would open minutes for Morez Johnson Jr. and Moussa Cisse, who would move closer to the nightly center mix.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Mavericks Shop P.J. Washington
The Dallas Mavericks are shopping forward/center P.J. Washington in trade talks, per Evan Sidery. Dallas has a crowded frontcourt after extending Naji Marshall and adding rookie Morez Johnson Jr., creating a potential minutes squeeze for Washington. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2029-30 on a four-year, $88.76 million extension, giving the Mavericks a sizable salary-matching piece if they pursue a consolidation trade. Washington played a career-low 56 games last season, averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.4 threes while shooting 32.5 percent from deep. A trade to a team that starts him would help preserve his rebounds, threes, and defensive-stat value, while staying in Dallas could leave him fighting for touches in a crowded rotation.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Santi Aldama Leads Spain in World Cup Qualifiers
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Santi Aldama is back on the floor, headlining a 15-man Spain squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window, per Eurohoops. The return is a positive health signal after season-ending right knee surgery in March cut his 2025-26 to 43 games. The bigger NBA-fantasy story, though, is his new address: Memphis traded Aldama to Dallas on July 1, moving him from a featured rotation role, where he posted career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 35.0 percent from deep, into a crowded frontcourt. Behind P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in a crowded Dallas frontcourt, Aldama's minutes and touches figure to shrink. His well-rounded game keeps deep-league appeal, but temper expectations until the Mavericks' rotation sorts out.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Mavericks Match Knicks' Offer Sheet to Keep Moussa Cisse
Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse will remain with the team after Dallas matched the New York Knicks' two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Cisse signed the Knicks' sheet on Saturday, but Dallas moved quickly to keep the 6-foot-11 rim protector. He was a defensive standout in the G League last season, averaging 14.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks for the Texas Legends and closing the Mavs' finale with 17 points and 20 boards. In the NBA, he chipped in 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 38 games. He returns as depth behind Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Santi Aldama, so his fantasy path runs through the injury report, starting with Lively's recovery timeline.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Knicks Sign Moussa Cisse to Two-Year Offer Sheet
Restricted free-agent center Moussa Cisse has agreed to a two-year offer sheet with the New York Knicks, ESPN's Shams Charania reports, giving the Dallas Mavericks 48 hours to match or let him walk. The first year is half-guaranteed with 2027-28 non-guaranteed, a modest number for a backup center. The 23-year-old carved out a role for the shorthanded Mavericks as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes across 38 games. He ranked among the league's top 15 in both rebound and block rate, the physicality that made him a valuable role player. Dallas has valued him as cheap depth behind Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, so a match is plausible. Either way, his fantasy value hinges on injuries opening minutes in a crowded frontcourt.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
