The Dallas Mavericks have a lot of new faces on their roster heading into the 2023-24 season. They were very active this offseason in the NBA Draft and free agency, looking to bolster the lineup around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving so that they don’t have the same sort of letdowns that plagued them the second half of last season.
Two of the bigger additions that the team made came in the draft. With the No. 12 pick, Dallas landed the rights to Derek Lively II out of Duke. At No. 24, Olivier-Maxence Prosper out of Marquette was selected, and the Mavericks acquired his draft rights from the Sacramento Kings.
Both players will fill major needs that Dallas had last season. Their production at the center spot was middling as the big contract they handed to JaVale McGee backfired almost instantly. Lively will have a chance to cement that spot long-term, possessing the tools to be a defensive anchor.
The Mavericks likely have hopes that Prosper can become their new Dorian Finney-Smith. They were unable to find someone to replicate the impact he can have on the court as a 3-point shooter and versatile defender after he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Irving blockbuster.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The two rookies will have a chance to showcase their talent right away as head coach Jason Kidd revealed some lineup plans for the team’s preseason games. Lively and Prosper will get plenty of minutes, including as starters.
“Yeah, [Lively and Prosper will start in preseason] just to see how they handle different situations,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said after Saturday’s practice. “They’ll start with Kai, Luka, and Grant.”
That will give the youngsters a chance to acclimate themselves with the established veterans on the team. Those three are locked into big-minute, starting roles heading into the season. Getting some experience and building cohesion with them in the early going will only help in the long-run.
It is something that Kidd is looking forward to. He knows that performance in practice doesn’t always translate to games and is interested to see how his rookies will respond to being in front of crowds and playing under the bright lights of an NBA game, even if it is only the preseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper & Dallas Mavericks Updates
“I’m excited to see how they handle it,” Kidd said of Lively and Prosper. “They’ve done the work, but sometimes the lights can be a little different, or seeing a different opponent, but I think they’ll handle it great. O-Max and D Live have been really good in the camp so far.”
The two certainly played under some bright lights in college at major programs, so they are certainly prepared to some extent for it at the next level. If they can respond and live up to their expectations, it would be a huge help for the Mavericks climbing the ranks in the Western Conference.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
