Mavericks zero in on unwise free agency reunion if surging rumors are true

It's no secret that one of the Dallas Mavericks' biggest roster holes is their lack of guard depth and players who can initiate the offense with the ball in their hands. With this in mind, Dallas signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year deal that has a player option in the final year of his contract, but even this bargain signing wasn't enough to mend Dallas' biggest roster need.

As the Mavericks inch closer to the beginning of training camp, the need for guard depth persists despite signing Ryan Nembhard, who, by all accounts, could be an NBA-ready undrafted guard, as well as signing Russell. Dallas is also rumored to re-sign Dante Exum on a one-year minimum contract that was reported in the opening days of free agency on July 2.

While Exum has emerged as a fan-favorite defensive-minded guard in his two seasons spent with the Mavericks, the reality of the situation is that the Mavericks need to let Exum walk this summer.

Mavericks' rumored Exum signing could prove to be a terrible decision

Not only are the Mavericks over the standard roster limit if the Exum contract is confirmed, but the Australian guard has a history of injuries that tend to linger throughout the season. Just last season, Exum missed almost 50 games with a wrist injury that he suffered in training camp, and the year before that was the same story as he only suited up for 55 of the 82 games in the regular season.

Exum's health and availability should not only ring alarm bells for fans considering the Mavericks already have a fragile roster that was proven to be derailed by multiple injuries last season, but Exum won't help Dallas on the offensive end of the ball in the way they need him to.

While it is true, Exum is a player who can bring the ball up the floor, he isn't a player whose flashiness will wow any defenses or throw any opposing defenders off with an explosive play or flashy dribble move. Exum not only relies on getting open looks from his teammates, but has struggled at times being a reliable offensive initiator, which was one reason he was quickly played out of Dallas' rotation at the start of the 2024 playoff run.

Not only does Exum struggle getting his shot depending on who's guarding him, but the Mavericks need players who can attract double teams, and Exum is almost the opposite of that mold. Much of Exum's points either come in transition or by open corner three-point shots, which have their benefits.

Despite all of Exum's offensive concerns, he does possess the ability to be a primary point of attack defender, which is also something the Mavericks desperately need. However, even with this need, Exum's presence will only be taking reps away from Max Christie, who the Mavericks will need to blossom into a reliable rotational piece this coming season.

Exum has, without a doubt, earned the respect of fans throughout his two-year stint in Dallas, but it may be best for the team to move on. Exum's offense not only doesn't help the Mavericks, but his injury history alone should be enough to let him walk in free agency.

Assuming the rumors are true and the Mavericks do re-sign Exum, it's going to likely cause Nico Harrison and the front office to jump through multiple hoops in an attempt to clear up one needed roster space to not go over the number of standard contracts allowed.