Coming into the offseason, one of the more pressing questions facing the Dallas Mavericks was how they were going to handle the guard spot. With Kyrie Irving set to miss most of the 2025-26 campaign, the Mavs were sorely needing some guard help to help see them through the season. On Wednesday, Dallas took more steps to help bring clarity to the guard room, as they agreed to terms with Dante Exum on a deal to return for his third year with the Mavericks.

Exum averaged nearly nine points and three assists per game last year, seeing just 18 minutes per game on average. In the season before that, Exum averaged eight and three in similar time, playing well off of both Luka and Kyrie during that magical 2023-24 campaign. He found himself closing in several big games down the stretch, including the game against the Houston Rockets, where Exum hit one of the biggest shots of the regular season to send that game to overtime.

(As an aside, a wise man once said “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days, before you’ve actually left them.”

Exum should see himself firmly entrenched in the Mavericks rotation, giving Dallas a nice value here on a vet minimum deal. Since being in Dallas, and when healthy, Dante has been a guy that contributes to winning at a high level. He’s a very high IQ player that has the size to compete defensively and the vision to be a great distributor offensively. Bringing Exum back is a very solid move by the Mavs.

Dinwiddie departs

Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Spencer Dinwiddie was leaving Dallas to join the Charlotte Hornets. Dinwiddie, who somehow played the most games of any Maverick last year, will get the chance to be a much needed veteran presence in Charlotte for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Kneuppel and all of the young guys that the Hornets gainfully employ.

This departure should give Mavericks fans a chance to remember Dinwiddie fondly, as he was nothing short of a consummate professional for the team during the self-inflicted disaster season that the Mavs had in 2024-25. While not exactly landing with a contender, it’s a new challenge for the smoothie king to take on, and here’s to hoping he does just that.