For a while, rumors of Dante Exum potentially going to Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul next season have been circulating in European and NBA circles. And considering the fact that Fener just took home the EuroLeague trophy, this would be a very exciting move.
Going to Europe is hardly the demotion it once was, it’s really just a different path. The EuroLeague is so talented at this point - evidenced by the continual success in FIBA tournaments by a number of European countries, as well as Europeans regularly topping the MVP ladder in the best league in the world. That helps make it a much more interesting market for the most talented players than it ever has been before.
But this week, the Mavericks communicated their interest in the veteran guard, as well. According to reporting from Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks and Dante Exum have “mutual interest in hashing out a new deal”.
The Mavs hold Early Bird rights for the Australian point guard which allows them to give him a dump in pay from his previous salary of $3.15 million for this season.
The nine-year NBA veteran played 75 regular season games over the last two years and averaged 8.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes. He shot 51.6 percent from the field and 47.2 percent on three-pointers.
His time in Dallas has been marred by a series of injuries, however, the latest being a broken wrist sustained in the 2024 preseason, which required surgery and kept him out for a significant amount of time.
Inability to stay on the floor is the deciding factor here, because everything else fits hand in glove.
If he can’t stay healthy, is it worth the risk to sign him?
As the team waits for Kyrie Irving to return from injury sometime next year, they need guards they can trust and who already know the system and the teammates.
With Exum, there won’t be a need to find time to gel. He already works well with Irving, and will be ready to play next to him, off of him and sub in for him when needed.
Exum’s vision, IQ and valuable off-ball movement have always worked well next to Kyrie Irving. Like here, where he cuts at the right time, helping Irving who was stuck in the paint and creating a chance to score in what could have been a lost possession.
Watch Exum cut into the paint for an easy layup, showing his ability to read the game
When a player is in trouble in the paint it’s always the right decision to cut, drawing def attention or an easy bucket. Kyrie‘s vision makes it an easy pass
pic.twitter.com/oONFLPn4Vt
— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) November 19, 2023
This is a guy who’s been there for the ups and downs of the previous two seasons in Dallas, and that should take preference over trying to work a new guard into the system and the locker room. Add to that that he’s a low-cost guard with the advantage of positional size at 6’5, 214 lbs and able to guard 1-5.
Taking a risk on Dante Exum seems worth it for a Mavs team lacking in guards and especially true point guards who can playmake.
Playing in Europe under extreme pressure at times, first in Barcelona, then in Partizan before going to Dallas, he learned how to lead a team and use his size in a physical league.
Exum was out with a broken wrist last season, and wasn’t able to return until a few days after the Luka Doncic trade in February. Head coach Jason Kidd was clearly happy to have him back, and didn’t hold back on praising him, echoing a similar sentiment:
“We missed him after day one of training camp…Not having him for most of the season, that’s a big hole but we’ve never complained. We waited for him to get back…I think the pace, his ability to finish, the physicality, and then the rebounding…”
Exum has shown through his two years in Dallas that he plays with a high basketball IQ, makes the right reads, pushes the pace when needed and keeps calm during pressure. Holding down the fort until Irving is back is a necessity for this team next season, and using Exum to fill a void and ensure consistency seems like it would be worth the risk.
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