Mavericks finish offseason with home-run signing that critics will regret overlooking

On Monday morning, the Dallas Mavericks completed their offseason by officially re-signing Dante Exum to a one-year deal, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac. Exum's return to Dallas had been rumored for months, and it was clear that the move would be finalized right after the Mavericks waived Olivier-Maxence Prosper over the weekend.

The Mavs needed to create a roster spot for Exum, as they would've had 16 players under contract if they hadn't waived Prosper, and now Dallas' roster is pretty much finalized ahead of training camp. They have 15 players under standard contracts, two on two-way deals, and two on Exhibit 10 deals. While Dallas will likely invite a few more players to camp on E10s, the blunt of their roster building is complete, and Nico Harrison deserves some credit for the Exum signing.

This was the perfect move to finish the summer with, especially since they needed more ball handling badly, and Exum is poised to fill a role that Jason Kidd desperately needed filled. Exum chose Dallas over multiple other interested contenders, including the Los Angeles Lakers, and his third year as a Maverick could be his most pivotal season yet.

Mavericks make Dante Exum return official in crucial move

Before Exum was officially re-signed, Kidd would've only been able to rely upon D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, and Jaden Hardy to run the show while Kyrie Irving is injured, and Exum will give him a balanced playmaker who can play multiple positions and lead the offense with a steady hand. As a Maverick, Exum has spent significant time playing point guard, shooting guard, and even some small forward, and thanks to his defense, wing shooting, and connectivity, Kidd can plug and play him into almost any lineup.

In 20 games last season, Exum averaged 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and a strong 43.4 percent from downtown. Exum's strong 3-point shooting, especially off the catch, has made him a staple in Kidd's rotation over the last two years, but now he has to clear the biggest hurdle that has plagued his time in Dallas.

Injuries.

Exum has only played in 75 games over his first two years in Dallas, as he has suffered a variety of injuries that have kept him off the court for extended periods of time. From a freak wrist injury that he suffered after a dunk attempt to a fracture in his hand and more, Exum's body has been through a whirlwind as a member of the Mavericks, and fans will be hoping that he can have a fully healthy 2025-26 campaign.

And they're going to need it.

The Mavericks can't afford to go through another brutal injury spell like they did last year, and Kidd's backcourt options would be running thin if Exum went down before Irving returned. Exum's performance over the first half of the season could play a big part in how Dallas fares in the standings since he'll be one of the biggest X-factors on the team, and while his return being made official is a quiet move since fans knew it was coming for months, it was a needed one.

You can never have too much backcourt depth in today's NBA, and Exum has proven time and time again that he is a good fit on and off the court in Dallas. Exum has left his mark on Mavericks fans with clutch 3-pointers, strong all-around play, and hard work, and this was a solid move by Harrison to round out the team's 15-man roster for one of the most do-or-die seasons in franchise history.

If Exum can remain healthy, this quiet signing could end up being a loud statement by Dallas that their backcourt will be stronger than anyone wants to give them credit for.