2023 NBA Draft Profile

Overview
After a successful high school career as a five-star recruit who won Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and was invited to the McDonald’s All-American game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit in 2022, Dereck Lively II committed to Duke. During his lone freshman season, the center averaged 5.2 points on 65.8% shooting, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.4 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game while starting 24 of his 34 appearances. He was named to both the ACC All-Freshman Team and ACC All-Defensive Team, with Lively recording at least five blocks on five occasions, and Duke won its conference tournament.

Analysis
Lively demonstrated at Duke that he’s capable of being an easy lob target and defensive anchor with his long wingspan, and he may settle into a role as a traditional pick-and-roll big. He’s mobile enough to guard some on the perimeter, which can be useful as part of a switching scheme or when things break down and he ends up guarding a ballhandler. The center is also a willing passer and could find cutters or 3-point shooters in a system with heavy off-ball movement.

Projection
A team thin at center could draft Lively to compete for a backup big role, so he may have an opportunity to see meaningful immediate minutes. Longer term, he could develop into a starter, especially if he blocks shots as expected and finds a point guard with great touch throwing alley-oops. His NBA comparison could vary based on how a team uses him, but there are shades here of Nick Richards, Nic Claxton and Willie Cauley-Stein.

— Profile by RotoWire