Unrestricted NBA free agent Dante Exum reportedly faces an upcoming decision that will likely impact the future of both franchises. How will Exum’s decision affect the Dallas Mavericks’ offseason plans?
A day after it was revealed that Exum was in the sights of Turkish club Fenerbache, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that the 29-year-old Australian and the Mavericks have mutual interest of working out a new contract. Stein added that there is belief that Exum‘s preference is to remain in the NBA.
Dante Exum Drawing Interest From Multiple Teams: How Will His Decision Affect Mavs Offseason?
Exum has been hampered by injuries most of his career. The 2014 No. 5 overall selection has been limited to 75 games over the last two seasons with the Mavericks, including just 20 contests this past season. Still, he has been an effective role player for the Mavs. He has compiled 8.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds with incredible efficient shooting splits of .516/.472/.768 during this stretch.
Exum signed with Dallas in the summer of 2023, after spending two seasons overseas, for a two-year contract worth $6 million. Exum played for one season with FC Barcelona and Serbian team Partizan Belgrade before signing with the Mavericks. Overall, the 6-5 combo guard has played in 320 games over eight seasons.
Exum’s 2024-2025 got off to a late start as the 29-year-old didn’t make his debut until the end of January due to a wrist injury. He totaled 173 points (8.3) and 56 assists while starting 13 of his 20 appearances. He scored in double figures seven times, topping the 20-point mark once before his season ended due to a fractured left hand in March.
Dallas 2025-2026 Salary Situation
Exum is one of two players set for free agency, with Spencer Dinwiddie being the other. The Mavericks hold Exum’s early Bird rights; therefore, they can pay him 175% of this past season’s salary, or $5.46 million for the upcoming season, regardless of their cap situation. Obviously, the Mavs and Exum could work out a multi-year deal.
Dallas has 13 players under contract with a salary cap hit of $190.13 million for the upcoming season. Kyrie Irving ($43.9 million), who will be sidelined until at least January with a knee injury, and Dwight Powell ($4 million) have player options that they will likely exercise. It is conceivable that Irving declines the player option and signs a multi-year deal to give the Mavericks a little more room under the second apron.
Therefore, Dallas projects to enter the offseason over the luxury tax. It would also leave the Mavericks just $3.6 million under the first apron and $12.69 million from the second. However, the Mavericks are expected to select Cooper Flagg with the top overall pick at the end of the month. With Flagg guaranteed a first-year salary of $11.5 million, that would put the Mavs very close to the second apron.
With Dallas having no other picks besides the No. 1 selection, the Mavericks are projected to be around $1 million short of the second apron with 14 players. Since the Mavs own early bird rights, they could still sign Exum to a one-year deal with little consequence. But the Mavs likely will make a few trades.
Brandon Williams‘ $2.27 million contract isn’t fully guaranteed until January 10. However, the Mavericks will be on the hook for $1 million of that amount if he is with the team on opening night.
Players the Mavericks Could Trade
The Mavericks do have some valuable trade chips if a slight reset is something they are interested in doing. However, the Mavericks are an older team, with three of their top six players already 32 years old or older. Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington are the Mavs’ most valuable trade chips, excluding Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Flagg. Gafford and Washington are on expiring deals.
It is also possible that if Irving shows no interest in signing an extension with the Mavericks, they may trade him before the 2026 trade deadline. Otherwise, the Mavs could trade Caleb Martin, Jaden Hardy, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, or Powell to shed salary. A package deal is not out of the question, though the Mavs would likely not trade Marshall or Christie.
The Importance of Dante Exum for the Mavs in 2025-56
With Irving out for the first couple of months and Dinwiddie not likely to return, Dallas needs someone to run the offense. Exum possesses excellent size and can handle the point or play on the wing.
Exum entered the league known as a cerebral lead guard with excellent playmaking and ball-handling skills, along with some defensive potential. Shooting was considered his primary weakness.
While Exum has improved as a shooter, he is still at his best when he gets to the hoop and in pick-n-roll situations. Fifty percent of his shots have come within 10 feet of the basket. His offensive game remains centered on creating, although he has become a reliable, low-volume 3-point shooter. He is also a reliable ball-handle with a nearly 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
If Exum re-signs with the Mavs, he will likely start at point guard. Exum is the most experienced point guard on the Mavs’ roster, although Jason Kidd could decide to go with Christie. While Exum has made 102 career starts, he has been more effective off the bench throughout his career. Either way, Exum will be in Kidd’s rotation.
Klay Thompson, Flagg, Davis, and either Gafford or Lively project to be the Mavs’ other starters. Kidd’s second unit figures to feature Washington, Marshall, and two of the players who aren’t in the starting lineup (Christie/Exum and Lively/Gafford). That would leave Williams, Hardy, and Martin to fight for playing time. However, I do expect the Mavs to make some trade that either clears the logjam or improves the roster.
What If Exum Doesn’t Re-Sign With Mavs?
Now, if Exum and Dallas can’t work out a deal, it puts more pressure on general manager Nico Harrison to trade for a starting point guard. Thus likely raising the premium that other teams can extract from the Mavs.
While Christie has proven to be much more effective as a starter than off the bench, he is not a true creator. This leaves Williams, who has not yet shown he can play major NBA minutes, as the only other player on the roster capable of doing so.
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