At 12-22, the Mavericks are 12th in the Western Conference. Dallas is 4-6 in their last 10 and have lost three consecutive games. That includes a 125-122 loss to Portland on Monday.
Injuries have been a major storyline early in the 2025-26 season. Anthony Davis has missed significant time due to injury. On top of that, the team has lost two players to season-ending injuries. That includes Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum. Recently, the Mavericks applied for disabled player exceptions for Lively II and Exum.
Can Dallas overcome injuries and be competitive in the West?
Mavs Apply For Disabled Player Exceptions For Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum https://t.co/twLMbFxreM
— RealGM (@RealGM) December 29, 2025
Dereck Lively II is in his third professional season with the Mavs. The Thunder used the 12th overall pick to select Lively out of Duke. However, they traded him on draft night to the Mavericks. In three seasons, Lively has appeared in 98 games and made 75 starts. He’s missed significant time due to injury in his short NBA career. That includes the 2025-26 season. Dereck Livley II had a lingering foot injury and underwent surgery in early December.
The 21-year-old appeared in just seven games in 2025-26 and made four starts. He’ll have missed 121 games over the last two years by this season’s end. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Dallas applied for a disabled player exception for Dereck Lively II. Disabled player exceptions provide half of each player’s salary. That would be roughly $2.6 million for Lively, who is making $5.2 million in 2025-26.
The Mavericks have formally applied to the league office for a Disabled Player Exception on both Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum, league sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 29, 2025
Additionally, Dallas applied for a disabled player exception for Dante Exum. The 30-year-old PG signed with Dallas this offseason on a one-year, $2.3 million veteran’s minimum. Exum was unable to play at all for the Mavs in 2025-26 due to injury. He underwent an offseason procedure on his knee and then a follow-up in early December.
Dante Exum’s Disabled Player Exception would be worth roughly $1.14 million. However, the Mavs would likely be unable to use those DPEs if they were granted. That’s because the team cannot surpass the second apron. As of December 30, Dallas is $1.29 million below that cap. While it’s uncommon, Indiana received two DPEs last season. One for Isaiah Jackson and another for James Wiseman. The team is trying to compete in the West until they are at full strength. Kyrie Irving has yet to suit up for the Mavs in 2025-26.
