Dante Exum is back with the Dallas Mavericks, adding guard depth as early-season ball-handling duties are shared with D’Angelo Russell while Kyrie Irving returns from ACL rehab. Dallas cleared a roster space by waiving Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a move that stirs immediate questions about wing depth and rotation. Exum, who missed most of last season due to injuries, averaged 8.7 points in 20 games (13 starts) in 2024-25, underscoring his potential if he can stay healthy.

Early-year usage will hinge on health and fit: Russell and Exum provide playmaking, Irving remains the high-usage catalyst, and Doncic’s heavy usage continues to shape the backcourt. The move signals a guard-centric plan in Dallas with eyes on maximizing star talent while managing minutes and injuries.

Kyrie Irving shows progress six months after ACL tear, with clips of deep shooting fueling hope for a return to peak form. Realistic ramp is gradual, but the sign of mobility and shot feel matters for his fantasy ceiling.

Dallas Mavericks must navigate guard depth as Irving nears return. D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum provide stopgap help, while Jaden Hardy and Max Christie develop. If Irving approaches prior form, Dallas could mount a late push in an injury-plagued season.

The Mavericks waived Olivier-Maxence Prosper via stretch provision, freeing a roster spot to potentially re-sign Dante Exum. Prosper, the 24th pick in 2023, played 52 games last season and averaged around 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds, but his wrist surgery this offseason and limited upside leave him as an incoming free agent in 2025-26. Exum returns on a one-year minimum, aided by Dallas’ cap maneuvering to stay under the second apron and pursue short-term guard depth.

This move signals Dallas prioritizes immediate flexibility over long-term draft compensation, using stretch provisions to keep Exum in the fold while giving Prosper a new path elsewhere. The club now has a clear lane to optimize rotation depth and monitor Prosper’s market value as he recovers, with Exum’s fit and health being the central storyline for the guard group this season.

The Mavericks are using the waive-and-stretch on Olivier-Maxence Prosper to clear a roster spot and fund depth for next season, especially with Kyrie Irving out for a portion due to an ACL injury. Dallas has shifted guard duties to D’Angelo Russell as a starter in Irving’s absence, but the bench backing him up needed a reliable playmaker. Waiving O-Max, a 22-year-old former first-round pick, creates space to re-sign Dante Exum, whose size and defense are prized in Jason Kidd’s system. The move also trims Prosper’s remaining money, enabling cap relief to stay under the second tax apron while pursuing depth and stability in the backcourt. The addition of Cooper Flagg to a forward rotation that already features Washington, Davis, and others further shapes the frontcourt dynamic as Dallas retools for the season ahead.