Free agent guard Dante Exum is signing a one-year contract to return to Dallas, ESPN reported on Wednesday, as the Mavericks are quickly adding depth to the position while nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving recovers from a knee injury.
Dallas also is bringing in point guard D’Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth $13 million, ESPN reported on Monday. Irving is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in March, and Russell may be asked to start at point guard until Irving is healthy early in 2026.
Exum has dealt with injuries, too, needing wrist surgery in October 2024 and also breaking his hand last season. Exum, who will be 30 on July 13, also sustained foot and knee injuries in the 2023-24 season, and he missed the entire 2015-16 season with a knee injury.
He played in 20 games (13 starts) last season for Dallas and averaged 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 18.6 minutes. In two seasons with the Mavericks, Exum has averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 19.5 minutes in 75 games (30 starts).
The native of Australia was selected fifth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, where he played from 2014 to 2019. He spent parts of two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2019-21) before playing two years in Europe.
For his NBA career, Exum averages 6.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 18.8 minutes in 320 games (102 starts).
–Field Level Media
