Don’t you think of an onion when you look at the Dallas Mavericks? Wait, let me add some sense to that question. You see, that one blockbuster Luka Doncic trade unveiled the franchise in layers. Mostly mysteriously concerning stories came out of the dark. The front office fired more people and also made changes to the medical staff. But now, there is a bigger and more troubling tale swirling around Dereck Lively II’s injury. Would it surprise you to hear that Nico Harrison played a role in it?
On January 20, the Mavericks listed 21-year-old rising center Dereck Lively II as questionable with a right ankle sprain. He had already missed two games. Yet, under Keith Belton’s watch, he pushed through a demanding return-to-play workout. Still, he didn’t suit up. Instead, the Mavericks chose caution over risk, protecting a future cornerstone.
“The plan was for Lively to play at home two nights later against the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Tim MacMahon wrote. Meanwhile, Johann Bilsborough, the director of player health and performance, questioned the situation. His concerns led to a CT scan that revealed a stress fracture in Lively’s right ankle, knocking him out for two and a half months. One team source didn’t hold back: “Somebody should be fired for that.” Worse, as multiple sources noted, it wasn’t just a misstep. It was a red flag in a much deeper issue.
Mavs GM Nico Harrison says it’s “kind of a joke” to bring up the firing of Casey Smith.
What about Dirk Nowitzki’s disengagement from Mavs, friction with Luka Doncic’s camp, and discord inside Dallas’ staff during this disastrous, injury-ravaged season?https://t.co/bHJWVu9mtk
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 21, 2025
Despite the backlash, Nico Harrison defended the staff’s decisions, calling it proof that his medical team is “elite.” He pointed out, “It actually goes to show the strength of our medical team, because he was cleared to play, but his signs and symptoms where our medical team knew it was something more.” Sources confirmed Dereck Lively II‘s camp appreciated Bilsborough’s careful oversight. Harrison doubled down: “Thank God we saw that he had a stress fracture.” In hindsight, what seemed like a misstep became a testament to caution and instinct.
Had there been a mistake in analysis from Johann Bilsborough’s side, who knows what Dereck Lively II’s career would have turned out to be? This incident could’ve been career-threatening, to say the least. Meanwhile, the Mavs’ head coach has finally revealed his true emotions about the Luka Doncic trade. And to say it wasn’t particularly surprising to know the reality wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Amid Dereck Lively II’s scary revelation, Jason Kidd’s sentiments about the Doncic trade surface
The Dallas Mavericks‘ season ended with a 120-106 blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament, missing the playoffs entirely. Despite GM Nico Harrison’s vision of a win-now trade involving Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, the team’s failure has sparked frustration. Fans have demanded changes, calling for the dismissal of everyone from Harrison to Jason Kidd. Yet, new revelations suggest Kidd wasn’t as fully on board with the trade as previously believed.
Tim Cato of the DLLS network reported that while Jason Kidd was understandably frustrated with the team’s injury crisis, he also “resented the front office’s midseason Doncic trade.” Sources revealed that Kidd “shared some of Harrison’s frustrations with Doncic” but felt forced to reinvent a roster built around one specific star. This exasperation peaked in February when Kidd notably skipped a league-mandated post-game press conference.
Tim Cato reports that Jason Kidd “resented” Nico Harrison trading Luka Dončić after the team and system had been built around LD.
The “exasperation” from that led Kidd to skip a postgame press conference back in February. https://t.co/DRnvWJ3PEb pic.twitter.com/TnYStMqYEt
— Mavs Film Room (@MavsFilmRoom) April 21, 2025
Thus, in the wake of a failed season and mounting tensions, the Dallas Mavericks’ future hangs in the balance. The mishandling of Dereck Lively II’s injury and the discord surrounding the Luka Doncic trade have laid bare cracks within the franchise. Nico Harrison defends his choices, but the unease, especially within the coaching staff, is palpable. As Kidd’s true feelings surface, the Mavericks’ struggles appear far deeper than just on-court performance.
The post Medical Negligence Threatened Dereck Lively II’s Career As Jason Kidd’s Luka Doncic Trade Stance Finally Unearths appeared first on EssentiallySports.
