Mavericks fan-favorite guard suddenly looks cuttable after concerning signs

After practice on Tuesday, Jason Kidd said that Dante Exum didn't practice at all, and rather than giving a reason, such as listing the injury that he is dealing with, he said, "he’s just out. That’s all I can tell you." Exum didn't practice at all during training camp in Vancouver, potentially due to an undisclosed injury, and his unreliability to stay healthy is reaching dangerous levels (if he is indeed injured).

Exum not practicing at all in Vancouver and missing today's practice was fishy, as Kidd said that everyone was available for training camp outside of Kyrie Irving during Media Day at the beginning of last week, and Mavs fans are eager to figure out what is going on.

There hasn't been an official injury diagnosis for Exum, as injury reports aren't required during the preseason, but if he is indeed injured, this could officially send him on the road out of Dallas via a trade. The Mavericks need as much guard help as they can get while Kyrie Irving recovers from the ACL tear that he suffered back in March, and if Nico Harrison doesn't think that he can stay healthy during the regular season, it may be smart to get rid of him in favor of Dennis Smith Jr. or Dalano Banton.

Dante Exum's availability is a growing concern

Dallas signed Exum to a one-year deal earlier this offseason, and this move is already looking like a mistake if he suffered a serious injury recently. Exum's injury risk was obvious long before he re-signed with the Mavs, as he only played in 75 regular-season games over two seasons in Dallas, and this potential recent injury could be the final nail in the coffin of his Mavericks journey.

Fans were excited that Dallas re-signed Exum, as his 3-point shooting, versatility, defense, and connectivity have helped make him a staple off the bench, but his struggles to stay healthy made them wary. The last thing that the Mavs need this season is another awful injury spell, and they aren't off to a great start.

Caleb Martin, Brandon Williams, Daniel Gafford, Exum, and Smith Jr. were all out for the Mavs' preseason opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dallas may be smart to get ahead of the curve and move on from Exum for Banton or Smith Jr.

This would likely have to be in a salary-dumping trade, which would likely require them to include future draft capital, so Banton or Smith Jr. would likely have to blow away the coaching staff to make this a realistic possibility.

Banton, who Dallas signed today, would be an intriguing option for Dallas to bring in, as he is a 6-foot-8 point guard with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and he'd provide a scoring punch, defense, and versatility. Last season for the Portland Trail Blazers, Banton averaged 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 67 games, and his scoring off the dribble, passing, and size would give the Mavs an interesting dynamic off the bench.

Smith Jr. could also end up landing a roster spot, as his on-ball defense would give the Mavericks a major edge on the perimeter, and Mavs fans have wanted him back ever since he was traded to the New York Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019.

The timing of the Mavericks bringing in Banton after the preseason began and Smith Jr. late into the offseason should be noted, as these moves could've been insurance for Exum and the potential that he gets injured. The nature of no required injury reports leaves all of this up in the air, as he may not even be seriously injured in the first place, but if he is, the Mavs have a tough choice to make, even if it does wait until later this season.

The Mavs ultimately waived Olivier-Maxence Prosper to make room for Exum, so getting rid of Exum would be shocking if they decided to go in that direction, and the severity of his potential injury could be what determines the direction Dallas heads in.