The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 season trying to maximise what remains of Stephen Curry’s championship window. The team went 37-45 last season, finished 10th in the Western Conference and was eliminated in the Play-In Tournament. Their offseason additions included Yaxel Lendeborg, Georges Niang and Brandon Williams, while the team is also counting on better health from its veteran core.
One potential weakness remains the frontcourt. Kristaps Porziņģis gives Golden State size and shooting, while Al Horford and Draymond Green provide experience and versatility. But the Warriors are also carrying significant age and durability concerns across that group.
That makes the idea of acquiring a much younger center particularly interesting.
One hypothetical target is Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II.
The Proposed Trade
Golden State Warriors receive:
Dereck Lively II
Dallas Mavericks receive:
Gui Santos, De’Anthony Melton, a 2028 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and a 2032 first-round pick (lottery protected).
This is a hypothetical trade proposal, not a reported transaction between the two teams.
Why Dereck Lively II Makes Sense for Golden State
Lively would give Golden State something its current roster does not have in abundance: a young, athletic 7-foot-1 center with playoff experience.
The 22-year-old was selected 12th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and made the All-Rookie Second Team. During his first two seasons, he showed an ability to finish around the basket, rebound, protect the rim and contribute without requiring a large offensive role. His career shooting percentage through those first two seasons was 72.9%.
His fit next to Curry would also be intriguing.
Curry creates constant pressure with his shooting and movement, while Lively’s offensive responsibilities could remain relatively simple: screen, roll, finish around the rim and attack the offensive glass.
That type of role would allow Golden State to add a productive young player without asking him to become a primary scorer.
Lively’s Injury History Is the Major Concern
There is an obvious reason a hypothetical deal like this would be complicated.
Lively has struggled to stay healthy during his young career. He played 55 games as a rookie and 36 games in his second season. In 2025-26, he appeared in only seven regular-season games before undergoing surgery on his right foot. He averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in those seven appearances.
As of September 2026, Lively was still not fully cleared to begin the new season, according to NBA.com reporting.
That uncertainty is an important part of evaluating any hypothetical trade.
Golden State would not simply be acquiring a promising young center. The Warriors would also be accepting the medical and availability risk attached to him.
Why Dallas Might Consider Moving Him
Dallas has built considerable depth in the frontcourt.
The Mavericks currently have Daniel Gafford, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr. and Lively among their bigs. NBA.com described the situation as a surplus of frontcourt options entering the 2026-27 season.
Morez Johnson Jr. was selected ninth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, while Aldama joined Dallas during the offseason. Gafford also remains under contract.
Lively therefore isn’t playing from a position of complete roster necessity.
However, Dallas has also continued to view him as an important young piece, so moving him would require significant compensation.
The Extension Question Adds Another Layer
Lively’s contract situation is another reason the hypothetical trade is interesting.
Marc Stein previously reported that Dallas and Lively had begun early-stage discussions regarding a possible rookie-scale extension. If an extension is not reached before the relevant deadline, Lively can enter restricted free agency in 2027.
That gives both sides an important decision.
Dallas has to determine how much it wants to invest in a center whose availability has been inconsistent, while Lively has to decide whether to secure a long-term deal or enter restricted free agency after another season.
A trade could theoretically eliminate that uncertainty for Dallas while giving Golden State control over Lively’s next stage of development.
What Golden State Would Be Betting On
For the Warriors, the appeal would not necessarily be immediate scoring.
It would be about adding a younger player who could contribute during Curry’s remaining years while also potentially remaining useful after the veteran core moves on.
The current Warriors roster includes Curry, Butler, Green, Horford and Porziņģis, alongside younger players such as Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lively would dramatically change the age profile of the center position.
Instead of relying primarily on veteran bigs, Golden State would have a 22-year-old rim-running center who already has NBA playoff experience.
Why the Draft Picks Matter for Dallas
The proposed return is built largely around the two future first-round selections.
That would give Dallas additional draft capital while keeping its young core intact.
The 2032 first-round pick would be particularly interesting because of the long-term timeline involved. By then, Curry’s career will be well into the past, meaning the future value of a pick from an aging Warriors roster could be difficult to predict.
That is exactly what makes future draft picks valuable in a rebuilding situation.
The Mavericks could potentially turn one injury-prone young center into multiple future opportunities to add talent.
The Risk Exists for Both Teams
This hypothetical trade would not be without significant risk.
Golden State would be betting that Lively can stay healthy and return to the level he showed during his first two NBA seasons.
Dallas, meanwhile, would be giving up a 22-year-old center with legitimate size and defensive potential in exchange for draft assets and players who would not necessarily replace his long-term upside.
The decision would ultimately come down to how each organization values Lively’s potential versus the certainty of future draft capital.
Final Thoughts
Dereck Lively II is an intriguing hypothetical target for the Warriors because he addresses both their present and future needs.
Golden State needs youth, size and athleticism around Curry, while Lively needs an opportunity to rebuild his momentum after a difficult injury stretch.
The proposed package of two protected first-round picks makes this a significant hypothetical commitment for the Warriors, but it also illustrates why Dallas could demand substantial value for a young center with proven playoff experience.
For now, this remains a mock trade rather than a reported NBA transaction. Lively remains a Dallas Maverick heading into the 2026-27 season, with the Mavericks entering training camp carrying several options at center.
