This Dallas Mavericks player is the biggest loser from the Luka Doncic trade

Dereck Lively II has taken a step back without Luka Doncic

One of the Mavericks’ young players who was expected to get a lot better this season is Dereck Lively II.

He has had a rough start to his season, averaging just 5.3 points and 5.0 rebounds through three games.

To make matters worse, Lively II missed the Mavericks’ fourth game of the season game against the Thunder with a right knee contusion.

With Luka Doncic, Lively was the beneficiary of many lobs and easy baskets around the rim.

Without Doncic, the Mavericks don’t have a real point guard. Kyrie Irving is sidelined until early 2026 and Flagg is playing out of position. As a result, Lively’s development has taken a hit.

Lively II averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season. This was supposed to be the year that he was going to break out, but so far it is not looking promising.

The Dallas Mavericks are in early season trouble

Even without Irving, the Mavericks were supposed to be a competitive team in the Western Conference.

However, the Mavericks have not fared well with the exception of their lone victory against the Toronto Raptors.

The guard play has been a big issue for the Mavericks. D’Angelo Russell has struggled and Flagg has been unable to adapt as a point guard thus far.

The Mavericks find themselves in dangerous territory because if they keep losing games, they could quickly find themselves in too big a hole to escape.