Mavericks' final signing is already crystal clear but fans have already forgotten

NBA offseason news has picked up over the last few days after the schedules for every team were announced last Thursday, but outside of that, the buzz has been slow for multiple weeks. Most of the marquee free agents have already signed with a team, and now, everyone is just waiting for preseason and training camp to start.

The Dallas Mavericks' roster is nearly finalized ahead of training camp, which begins in less than two months, but one offseason move still hasn't been finalized. Dallas has reportedly already signed Dante Exum to a one-year deal to be one of their guards off the bench, but since it hasn't been made official yet, no one is talking about it.

Mavericks fans have seemingly forgotten that Exum is returning, and his impending comeback to Dallas definitely deserves more media coverage ahead of the 2025-26 season. Exum has been incredible for Dallas over the past two seasons when healthy, as his defense, connectivity, 3-point shooting, and versatility have been invaluable, and he'll quickly remind fans why they can't afford to forget that he'll be coming back when he steps onto the hardwood.

Dante Exum's return to Dallas is inevitable

Last season for Dallas, Exum averaged 8.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from downtown, but his season didn't go exactly how Mavs fans had hoped as he injured his wrist during training camp while attempting a dunk. This was a major loss for Dallas, as he was expected to play a major role, just like he did in the 2023-24 season, and he only ended up playing in 20 games all season.

This offseason, some Mavericks fans feared that re-signing Exum was an accident waiting to happen due to his injury history and Dallas' current injury situation, but they shocked everyone and made sure that he would help hold down the bench unit for at least one more season. The Mavs don't have as much guard depth as people think, and with Kyrie Irving set to miss a large portion of next season, they are going to need Exum to play at a high level.

With D'Angelo Russell likely starting at point guard to begin the year, Exum will be fighting for minutes with players like Brandon Williams, Jaden Hardy, and Ryan Nembhard, and it won't be a cakewalk to playing time for him like it has been in the past. Exum is going to outplay each of the previously mentioned guards to be a staple in the rotation, because, as Mavs fans know well, Jason Kidd's main rotations typically only include nine players.

Despite being the most reliable option of the bench guards that were just listed, Exum's injuries and the fact that the signing hasn't been made official yet have made him fly under the radar, giving him the chance to wake up any fan who is sleeping on him.

A strong preseason from Exum could ensure that he'll be one of the guards that Kidd plays on a nightly basis, and he'll have the chance to quickly remind Mavs fans why Nico Harrison decided to bring him back.

The Exum signing has undoubtedly been the Mavs' quietest offseason move, especially since it hasn't been made official yet, but the news surrounding this move will pick up right before it goes down, since they have to get rid of someone to make room for Exum on the roster. Olivier-Maxence Prosper has been a rumored trade candidate who could get moved when trying to create a roster spot for Exum, and the Exum signing, along with whatever trade they make, will definitely emerge as crucial news whenever the Mavs officially decide to pull the trigger.