Dallas Mavericks Face Looming Deadline for Method to Make Room to Sign Danté Exum
The Dallas Mavericks continue to actively weigh trade and cap maneuvering options to finalize their agreement with guard Danté Exum. He has been in limbo since agreeing to sign a one-year veteran minimum contract in early July.
Head coach Jason Kidd has been a fan of Exum’s skill set, valuing his ability to push the pace offensively while serving as an all-around versatile perimeter piece. The holdup has come on the roster and salary cap side, with Dallas still needing to carve out the necessary room to complete the signing.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Jaden Hardy in Trade Talks
Dallas has prioritized exploring trade opportunities involving former first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Jaden Hardy has also surfaced as a candidate in conversations. More clarity will be provided by Friday afternoon, with the league’s deadline (4 p.m. CT) for waiving and stretching contracts looming large.
Prosper, who holds a $3 million salary for 2025–26 and a $5.3 million team option for the following year, is viewed as a possible stretch candidate if a trade doesn’t transpire. Spreading his current year’s salary across three seasons at roughly $1 million annually would open approximately $2 million in additional room below the second tax apron.
Based on conversations DallasHoopsJournal.com has held with members of rival front offices, a common perception is that neither Hardy nor Prosper has meaningful trade value at this stage. While the Mavericks have had both players in their system to develop, neither has broken through as a consistent rotation player.
Jaden Hardy’s Contract and Role Questions
Hardy is set to earn $6 million annually starting in 2025–26 as part of his three-year extension, a figure that surpasses what D’Angelo Russell will make. Russell is projected to start at point guard while Kyrie Irving recovers from ACL surgery.
Hardy’s long-term outlook with the Mavericks is complicated. Russell is expected to move into a bench role once Irving returns to action. Additionally, Brandon Williams provided steadier backcourt play during last season’s stretch run and was later converted from a two-way deal into a standard NBA contract.
The 23-year-old Hardy averaged 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 57 appearances last season, shooting 43.5% from the field and 38.6% from three.
Cap Constraints Shape Decision
The Mavericks currently have a team salary of roughly $206.2 million for apron purposes, just $1.6 million below the $207.8 million second apron threshold. Dallas hard-capped itself at that line by using the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Russell last month. A minimum-salary contract for Exum would carry a $2.3 million cap hit, pushing the team over the limit unless a move is made.
Dallas, carrying 15 players on guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals, must also clear a roster spot to make room for Exum. The team has until Friday afternoon to determine whether it will move salary through the stretch provision to secure Exum’s place on the opening roster.
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