DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have until 5 p.m. CT on Monday, Oct. 19, to sign center Dereck Lively II to a rookie-scale contract extension. If the deadline passes without a deal, Lively will play the 2026-27 season on the $7,239,131 salary in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract.

Dallas could make him a restricted free agent next summer by extending a qualifying offer. In that case, the Mavericks would hold the right to match any offer sheet Lively signs with another team. An extension completed before Monday’s deadline could run up to five years and would begin in 2027-28.

Lively has not been medically cleared to play. He sat out all four of Dallas’ preseason games, including both games against the Houston Rockets in Macao and Friday’s exhibition against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center.

On Oct. 9, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said Lively was making good progress. Ujiri said Lively had progressed to shooting and was working toward running on the court.

Two days later, before the second game in Macao, Mavericks coach Dusty May said the return-to-play protocol Lively is working through is the same one every player goes through, with some differences in his case.

“I’ll defer to the medical staff on that. I know this, he’s moving well,” May said. “We see him regularly getting treatment, doing things on the court. There’s just a return to play protocol that everyone goes through. It’s a little bit unique, but he’s in good spirits.”

“He’s working every day, and whenever he’s back, he’s going to have a major impact on this team,” May continued.

Dereck Lively II Among 2023 Draft Picks Still Without Extensions

Dallas and Lively had held early-stage talks on an extension. Five members of that draft class have signed rookie-scale extensions. Victor Wembanyama was the first, agreeing in July to a five-year maximum deal with the San Antonio Spurs that projects to $255.2 million. Houston gave Amen Thompson five years and $208 million on Sept. 3.

In September, Keyonte George signed for five years and $155 million with the Utah Jazz, and his deal includes another $2.5 million in incentives. Ausar Thompson signed for five years and $155 million with the Detroit Pistons. The Golden State Warriors and Brandin Podziemski agreed Oct. 11 to a five-year, $110 million extension, which has since been finalized.

Dallas used the 10th pick in 2023 on Cason Wallace and sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the rights to Lively, the 12th pick. The Thunder and Wallace have been discussing an extension in the range of $25 million per season, but no agreement has emerged.

Lively is one of two Mavericks facing Monday’s deadline. Guard Marcus Sasser, the 25th pick in 2023, is also in the final year of his rookie-scale contract. He missed both games in Macao with left adductor soreness.

Lively’s Right Foot Surgeries Since The 2024 NBA Finals

Over three seasons, Lively has appeared in 98 of a possible 246 regular-season games. He has averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists and shot 72.5% from the field.

His rookie season lasted 55 games, with 42 starts. Lively averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He made the All-Rookie Second Team and finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. During Dallas’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals, he averaged 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 21 playoff games.

In January 2025, Dallas announced a sprained right ankle before further testing revealed a stress fracture. Lively finished the 2024-25 regular season with 36 appearances, averaging 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. That July, he had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right foot.

A sprained right knee cost him nine games early last season. Lively played 7 games in 2025-26 and averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 16.4 minutes. His last game was Nov. 21, 2025, against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dallas announced Dec. 10 that he would have season-ending surgery on his right foot. Dr. James Calder performed the procedure at the Fortius Clinic in London, and the team said at the time that Lively was expected to be available for the start of training camp. On June 26, the Mavericks said he was walking and lifting weights but had not progressed to running.

With Lively and Santi Aldama out, May started rookie Morez Johnson Jr. at center in the Oct. 9 preseason opener, with Daniel Gafford coming off the bench. Aldama has been limited since a right knee procedure in March. Dallas took Johnson ninth overall in June.

The Mavericks open the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Houston, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. CT.