In a 2023 vintage relatively lean in pivots, especially in the first round, Dereck Lively II appears as a headliner of the post. A big star in high school (#2 in his age group), the Philadelphia native fell into line on offense once he arrived at Duke, but conversely quickly established himself as the defense minister of the Blue Devils. In particular thanks to its great qualities as a circle protector.
Discreet at the start of the season, he gained strength once the campaign switched to the 2023 part of the calendar, and he then quietly settled into the Top 20 of the Draft in most projections. A convincing Draft Combine even helped boost his odds even further, right to the gates of the lottery.
On paper, Derek Lively II has the qualities to become a player with significant defensive impact in the NBA. His Circle Protector profile isn’t uncommon, but it’s valuable. It will be coveted.
Profile
Job : Pivot
Size : 2m15
Weight : 104kg
Crew : Duke Blue Devils
Stats 2022/23: 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Strong points
– The Potential of an Elite Circle Protector. This is indeed the great quality of Derek Lively II currently, his gateway to an NBA rotation from next season and an area in which he can excel and eventually win in the elite of the league. With an insane physical profile (2m15 and 2m31 wingspan), the young pivot is naturally able to protect the circle, but his qualities are also notable on the technical level. Particularly with regard to its very responsive support. In the paint, the former Duke pivot is nimble and moves well. With a good trunk and good endurance, we have even seen him sometimes able to go out offshore this season, for example on “switches”, then follow his vis-à-vis to counter him from behind. This season, he was one of the best defensemen in the country with his 2.4 blocks per game, and even the best in the ACC conference. With him on the court, Duke’s defensive rating was 96.3 points conceded on 100 possessions, 26th best in the nation. Without him? 99.6 points, only the 69th best in the country. A scarecrow !
Dereck Lively’s defensive potential is really exciting. Moves his feet well, versatile rim protector, and his positioning steadily improved through the season.
1 of 15 true high major freshman since 2008 with a BLK% > 12
Duke DRTG w/ Lively:
On: 96.3 – 26th
Off: 99.6 – 69th pic.twitter.com/HAvYc6BVjw— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) June 12, 2023
– A good basis for shooting. We are clearly not basing ourselves on the NCAA season to highlight this point, since Derek Lively II ended his “freshman” campaign with an insignificant sample behind the arc: 0.4 attempts per game, for 15.4% success… In fact, it is the videos of the player during his pre-Draft process that put the flea in the ear, in particular his “Pro Day” with Klutch Sports. Without opposition, of course, Derek Lively has indeed displayed, under the eyes of many executives, a beautiful shooting mechanics, particularly fluid and fast for a player of his position and his size. This remains only a working basis that will have to be broadly deepened, but it is certainly convincing and suggests that the young player, on paper, will eventually be able to step aside and punish from afar in the NBA.
Weak points
– Very raw near the circle. With the exception of “dunks” converted into the “dunker spot” or in an “alley-oop” pattern, Derek Lively II does not really know how to finish in the circle. The scraps of a shot are there, but it’s not an option he uses near the circle yet. And since he has not yet developed an intermediate arsenal (hook shots, back-to-basket movements, etc.), he is currently not a reliable player in attack under the circle (only 52% this season) , and therefore attracts few fouls, if not none (one attempt per game this season)… In the NBA, playing with top designers will make his life easier. But eventually, he will have to progress in finishing near the circle to exist more in attack.
Comparison
A profile at Tyson Chandler Or Mitchell Robinson.
Prognosis
His rating has climbed since the Draft Combine, to the point that teams (the Warriors, in particular) are considering going up in the Draft to select him. It seems certain that he will be chosen between 10th and 14th position.
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