The Mavericks are eyeing a Dante Exum reunion, but it might cost them a young player
As the 2025-26 season approaches, the Mavericks are still tweaking their roster. NBA insiders report the team wants to bring back Dante Exum, but there’s a catch.
To make that happen, Dallas likely needs to part ways with a valuable role player.
NBA insider Jake Fischer has named former first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper as a potential trade candidate this offseason. Fischer also mentioned the team could look into trading Jaden Hardy, who just wrapped up his third season with the Mavericks.
Hardy’s future in Dallas is now uncertain.
“The Mavericks committed in early July to re-signing guard Dante Exum to bolster their backcourt to cope without Kyrie Irving (knee) for the season’s first few months but need to shed one of their 15 standard contracts,” Fischer reported.
Hardy took an unconventional path to the NBA. The Kings grabbed him in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft, but he never played a minute for Sacramento.
Instead of going the college route, Hardy followed Phoenix’s Jalen Green by playing for the G League Ignite. Dallas acquired him on draft night, and that’s where he’s spent his entire pro career so far.
In three seasons, he’s appeared in 178 games with 15 starts.
The timing of this potential move comes down to money. When Dallas signed D’Angelo Russell this offseason, they used the taxpayer mid-level exception, which hard-capped them at the second apron. In simple terms, their salary can’t go over a certain number in 2025-26.
That’s why they’re looking at trade options to make room for Exum.
Some fans aren’t happy about Hardy being on the trading block. One supporter pointed out on Twitter: “Jaden Hardy was genuinely an above-average guard in a Western Conference Finals. A young 6’4″ willing shooter with a quick-release that can get into the paint when needed sounds like the type of player this team could use next season.”
Prosper, 23, was the 24th pick in the 2023 NBA draft and has played in 92 games with five starts. But Hardy might be the more valuable trade piece.
Hardy’s shooting makes him attractive to potential trade partners. He’s hit a solid 38.1% from beyond the arc in his career – the kind of production another team would happily trade for.
Last offseason, Hardy signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Mavericks. He’s set to make $6 million annually starting in 2025-26, with a player option in 2027-28.
Will Dallas move on from Hardy this offseason, or will he stick around for another year in a Mavs uniform? With the season approaching fast, we’ll likely have our answer soon.
