Mavericks' 3 biggest wildcard players for 2023-24 season

1. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Early in the start of Mavericks training camp, it was announced that rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper would be practicing mainly with the starters. It was even more shocking when Prosper was announced he would be rolling out with the starting unit in the Mavs' first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fans quickly realized that Prosper being a starter would not become a common sight. The 21-year-old simply lacked the intangibles to be on an NBA court. It could have been due to nerves, but Prospers' starting role was quickly stripped due to his awful play.

Since his alarming start to the preseason, fans have yet to see an amazing performance out of Prosper. The off-ball aggression we all came to love during Prospers' Summer League stint has yet to be seen, and he has lacked awareness on defense, which is concerning.

It has quite literally become an ugly beginning to Prosper's professional career, However, fans shouldn't worry too much because it has only been four preseason games. Prosper will need to prove a lot, but a chance to crack Jason Kidd's rotation is still salvageable for the young forward.

Fans have seen the flash of a potential offensive weapon when it comes to Prosper. His ability to dribble drive off of hard closeouts has become quite enjoyable to watch. He may not score every time this occurs, but his dribble penetration has become a welcomed sight. Prosper will need to continue working on his finishing and offensive skill set, but the potential is there.

Prosper is the definition of a wildcard player with his boom or bust potential. He will need to change a lot of narratives, but thankfully for Prosper, he is just now entering his first professional season. As the Mavericks get closer and closer to their October 25 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, stay tuned in for news and updates on Dallas Mavericks basketball.