Coming off an unexpected trip to the NBA Finals that resulted in a loss to the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to take the next step and bring home their second Larry O’Brien Trophy this season.
They will start their preseason schedule on Monday when they face the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2023-24 season.
But the Mavericks have suffered a sizable blow before that first game, as guard Dante Exum injured his right wrist and may need to have surgery as a result, per Shams Charania.
Dallas Mavericks G Dante Exum has sustained a serious right wrist injury that could require surgery, sources tell @TheAthletic. Treatment options are being evaluated for Exum, who emerged as a key reserve guard on Mavs NBA Finals run last season. Tough early season blow for Mavs. pic.twitter.com/NZXqc0UET8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 4, 2024
Exum, 29, had spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons playing in Spain and Serbia, respectively, but last season, he became a key part of the Mavs’ rotation.
He averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes a game, and he shot a remarkable 49.1 percent from 3-point range.
Dallas has arguably the best starting backcourt in the NBA with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic manning both guard spots, and new arrival Klay Thompson is expected to start at the 3.
Other than that, however, they aren’t the deepest or most loaded team around.
They will need more scoring from frontcourt players such as P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II if they are to return to the Finals, let alone finish the job this time.
In terms of their guard depth, they brought back Spencer Dinwiddie, who had one of the best stretches of his career with the Mavs a couple of years ago.
He should be able to at least partly plug the hole created by Exum’s injury.
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