Mavericks are trapped from making the one move they desperately need

It's no secret that the Dallas Mavericks need all the guard depth they can get with Kyrie Irving out of the lineup until some point next year, but Dallas is already running into issues with their current guard pool outside of Irving, as Dante Exum has missed a majority of training camp with an undiagnosed injury (at least to the public).

Exum is a great point-of-attack defender and go-getter when it comes to getting downhill on the other end, but he's starting off training camp in a rough spot, given that he missed almost all of last training camp with a wrist injury. Things have gotten to a point where Dallas could potentially use a healthier and reliable option instead of Exum, but they can't cut Exum because of where they are at with their payroll.

After the Mavericks stretch-and-waived Olivier-Maxence Prosper to create room to sign Exum on a veteran's minimum deal, Dallas is just a hedge under the second apron, and exceeding that threshold would have significant implications as far as Dallas' roster flexibility and luxury tax bill are concerned.

Mavericks can't cut Exum for Banton or Smith Jr.

With Exum likely being on a fully guaranteed deal, Dallas would have to pay off his entire salary to waive/release him, which would place them over the second apron, meaning this is essentially a no-go. Dallas brought in players such as Dennis Smith Jr. and Dalano Banton into their training camp, and both of those players are younger and could offer similar attributes to Exum minus Exum's shooting ability, but it seems extremely unlikely either of those players will join Dallas' main roster this season.

Smith Jr. is probably an even better perimeter defender than Exum, and he's a great athlete and decent finisher, while Banton is even taller than Exum at 6-foot-8 and has a great dribble-drive and in-between game. However, Dallas couldn't sign either of these guys to their main roster unless they cut Brandon Williams, since Williams is the only Maverick on the 15-man roster with a partially guaranteed deal.

Despite Williams missing some time at the start of training camp with a hamstring strain, he's still poised to be one of Dallas' rotational guards, given how dynamic a three-level scorer he was at the end of last season, and he honestly should probably be above Exum in the rotation if things continue to trend how they were for Williams last season.

With that being said, it's extremely unlikely Dallas cuts Williams to make room for one of Smith Jr. or Banton, unless Williams can't stay healthy for the rest of camp or just flat-out loses his spot by playing terribly in preseason. While Exum has had some great moments in Dallas, his continual health concerns at his age are making it hard to justify why Dallas shouldn't take a look at a younger guard prospect instead of him, though it doesn't appear like that will be happening anytime soon, since they can't sign anyone else to a veteran minimum deal if they cut Exum.

Exum profiles as Dallas' biggest true point guard, and he's easily one of Dallas' best perimeter defenders when fully engaged, but someone like Banton could be an even younger and better version than Exum if he could hone in on his shooting and defense one day, so it'll be interesting to see if Dallas keeps Banton around in their farm system.