Though the NBA off season has been going on for multiple months now, the roster gymnastics aren’t quite finished yet for every team.
The Dallas Mavericks let go of Olivier Maxence-Prosper — their 2023 first round pick — by using the waive-and-stretch provision in his contract Thursday afternoon, according to ESPN.
The move will spread the remaining $3 million on his contract across the next three years, which will now put the Mavericks $3.6 million under the second apron, according to Spotrac. Waiving Maxence-Prosper also frees up an extra roster spot, as the Mavericks are reportedly targeting Dante Exum to bring back as a backup point guard.
With All-Star Kyrie Irving missing at least half, and potentially more, of next season with a torn ACL, the Mavericks are lacking point guard depth. Right now the only “true” point guard Dallas has on the roster is D’Angelo Russell.
Exum was able to fill the backup point guard role for Dallas well the last two years, appearing in 75 games and averaging 8.0 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. His salary was $3 million last year, so with the opened-up cap space he won’t have to take a pay cut.
The 6-foot-8 Maxence-Prosper was taken with the 24th pick in the 2023 draft out of Marquette with a pick that was traded to Dallas from Sacramento. In two seasons with the Mavericks he played in 92 games, averaging just 10 minutes per game. His per-game averages during his time in Dallas were 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists, while shooting just under 40 percent from the field.
With rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, All-Star Anthony Davis and P.J Washington in line to start, there were too many forwards on the roster for Maxence-Prosper to warrant a spot. The Mavericks attempted to trade Maxence-Prosper but were unable to find a deal before ultimately waiving him.
