The Mavericks are pushing hard to bring back Dante Exum, but they’ll need to make room first.
Dallas is actively trying to trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper to create the cap space needed to sign the veteran guard, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
Prosper, just 23, hasn’t found his footing in Dallas since being drafted 24th overall by Sacramento in 2023 and immediately traded to the Mavs.
He’s averaged a modest 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in just 10 minutes per game across 92 appearances with Dallas. His shooting hasn’t impressed either – just 39.6% from the field and a rough 26% from beyond the arc.
Things aren’t looking up for Prosper’s playing time, especially with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg joining the team at the same position.
Exum’s journey has been anything but straightforward. The former fifth overall pick in 2014 struggled to establish himself during his first NBA stint with Utah and Cleveland.
After heading to Europe for two seasons, he returned to the NBA in 2023 with something to prove.
Injuries have been Exum’s constant nemesis, limiting him to just 75 games over the past two seasons.
But when healthy, he’s been exactly what the Mavs needed – a reliable role player averaging 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in about 20 minutes per game. His shooting has been impressive too, hitting 51% overall and a stellar 47% from three-point range.
This past season, Exum put up 8.7 points per game in his 20 appearances, connecting on 43.4% of his three-pointers.
Getting Exum back is crucial for a Mavs team that’s been hammered by injuries. With star point guard Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL, Flagg is expected to handle primary ball-handling duties in his absence.
The team’s injury woes don’t stop there. Young center Dereck Lively II needed surgery on his right foot after playing just 36 games last season, though he’s expected back for training camp.
Dallas was forced to use 47 different starting lineups last season – tied for the fourth most by any team since the NBA started tracking starters in 1970-71.
Players missed a staggering 363 games combined, nearly double the previous season’s total.
Even former Lakers star Anthony Davis couldn’t escape the injury bug, suffering a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut and barely sharing the court with Irving.
