The Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a complex salary cap maneuver to re-sign Australian guard Dante Exum, a move deemed critical to maintaining roster depth in the wake of Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury. The front office’s active pursuit of a deal highlights the intricate balancing act teams must perform between contractual obligations and competitive needs, especially when faced with unexpected contingencies.
The need for Exum’s presence has been intensified by the absence of All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who suffered a torn ACL in March 2025. While Irving’s recovery is progressing ahead of schedule, with a potential return in late 2025 or early 2026, the team needs a reliable guard to fill his role and complement Luka Dončić. Exum has proven to be a valuable asset to the Mavericks, providing solid defense and efficient shooting from the perimeter, a role that became even more vital after the team stunningly traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in February 2025. Exum’s one-year deal, reportedly worth $2.29 million, has been agreed to since July but remains unofficial due to the team’s cap constraints.
The Mavericks’ roster crunch is driven by their hard-capped status at the second apron, a limitation they incurred by using the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign D’Angelo Russell. With their current team salary hovering just below the second apron, the team needs to shed approximately $1.6 million to make Exum’s deal official without incurring a penalty. To create the necessary cap space and an open roster spot for Exum, the Mavericks are exploring the possibility of trading or waiving either Olivier-Maxence Prosper or Jaden Hardy.
The most likely candidate to be moved is Olivier-Maxence Prosper. A first-round pick from just two years ago, Prosper has found limited playing time in his first two NBA seasons. His contract, worth approximately $3 million for the upcoming season, makes him a clear candidate to be traded, especially since the Mavericks hold a team option for 2026-27. While Hardy’s contract is larger at $6 million per year, his perceived trade value is lower than Prosper’s, which makes him more difficult to move. This difficult decision underscores the challenge of managing a roster where every dollar and player matters, particularly for a team with championship aspirations.
