The Dallas Mavericks agreed to re-sign Dante Exum last month, but in order to officially complete the move, the Mavericks will need to make a trade elsewhere.
NBA insider Marc Stein has revealed that Dallas is in the process of doing just that, reporting that the Mavs are attempting to trade forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
The Mavericks have ramped up their efforts to create the needed roster space to complete the signing of Dante Exum, sources tell @JakeLFischer and me.The push has focused on finding a new home via trade for Olivier-Maxence Prosper.More NBA from us: https://t.co/A5kReK6BoJ pic.twitter.com/tt4wz8CFNv
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 27, 2025
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Prosper was originally selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 24th overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft but was traded to the Mavericks a couple of weeks later.
The Marquette product has played somewhat sparingly in Dallas over his first two seasons. He appeared in 40 games during his rookie campaign, averaging three points and two rebounds over 8.4 minutes a night on 38.5 percent shooting.
Then, last year, Prosper participated in 52 contests and actually made four starts, posting 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds across 11.2 minutes per game on 40.2/23.5/64.5 shooting splits.
Meanwhile, Exum has spent the last couple of years in Dallas. Injuries limited him to just 20 games in 2024-25, and during his time on the floor, he registered 8.7 points and 2.8 assists through 18.6 minutes per game. He shot an impressive 47.8 percent from the floor and 43.4 percent from three-point range.
The 30-year-old has certainly not lived up to expectations since originally being selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 3 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, but he has been able to carve out a solid niche as a role player. When he has been healthy, that is.
Exum has battled injury issues throughout the vast majority of his professional career, which also included a stop overseas for two years in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
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He managed to play in 55 games during his debut campaign with the Mavericks in 2023-24, logging 7.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds a night, but it has always been difficult to depend on the Australian native because of his durability concerns.
But clearly, Dallas has liked what it has seen from Exum in the time he has been on the court these last couple of years.
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