Dallas Mavericks Backcourt Depth Takes Hit, Who Will Now Fill Third Guard Role (Primary Guard Off Bench)?

Dallas Mavericks Backcourt Depth Takes Hit, How Will Dante Exum’s Injury Impact The Team?

Regardless of the outcome of injury treatment, Exum will likely miss at least the start of the regular season, if not a few months. This has to be a huge blow the 29-year-old after he re-established himself as an NBA rotational player last season.

After spending two seasons overseas, the former No. 5 overall draft pick returned to the league with Dallas on a two-year deal. It took a while, but Exum eventually became the Mavericks’ primary guard off the bench behind  Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

Exum finished last season with 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while also shooting a very efficient 53.3/49.1/77.9 from the field over 18 minutes in 57 games, including 17 starts. His field goal and 3-point shooting numbers were career bests, though he averaged fewer than six shots a game, and just two of those six attempts were from beyond the arc.

Dante Exum’s Impact In 2023-24

Still, Dallas was 36-19 in the games Exum played and 14-13 in contests he didn’t. While the Mavericks were just 9-8 in games, Exum started, and the 6-5 guard upped his offensive production to 13.0 points and 4.5 assists with a +5.5 plus/minus rating.

Moreover, Exum scored in double figures 17 times all season, topping the 20-point mark three times. He is also an outstanding distributor who did an excellent job at not turning the ball over. Not known as a good individual defender, he struggled on that end this past season.

However, Exum finished the season with the team’s fourth-best plus/minus rating at +4.3, as the Mavs were better on both ends when he was on the floor. With Exum on the floor, When he was off the court, the Mavericks were outscored by less than a point a game. More importantly, Exum perfectly complemented Doncic and Irving when one of the others was off the court.

Who Will Fill  The Mavericks 3rd Guard With Exum Out?

So, who will Jason Kidd turn to as his first guard off the bench? Kidd does have a lot of options. It is a good thing as Doncic (calf strain) is also dealing with an ailment, though he is expected to be ready to go by the start of the season.

General Manager Nico Harrison took advantage of some trade options at the deadline to bolster Dallas’ roster. As a result of the moves, the Mavericks went on a second half and playoff that saw them reach the NBA Finals for the first time since being crowned champions in 2011.

Dallas posted the fourth-best winning percentage (21-9, .700) after acquiring  Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington at the trade deadline. The Mavericks, who moved up from the eighth seed to the fifth seed after the trade deadline, posted a 13-9 record in the postseason as they fell to Boston in the NBA Finals in five games.

Harrison didn’t allow the Mavericks to rest on their laurels in the offseason, making several more moves. Harrison made three more trades this summer, the big deals bringing Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes to Dallas. He also made wise free-agent moves by signing Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Thompson is expected to join Doncic, Irving, Washington, and Dereck Lively in the starting lineup. Therefore, Grimes, Dinwiddie, and Jaden Hardy will compete regularly to be the first guard off the bench. The Mavs also have fourth-year pro Brandon Williams and youngster Jazian Gortman (Exhibit 10) in camp. But Williams and Gortman appear destined for the Mavs G-League squad.

Examining The 3 Likely Competitors For Third Guard

Dallas could also look at the waiver or trade market at the end of training camp if Exum is out for an extended period and the Mavs are not comfortable with their options. The Mavericks have 15 players on standard contracts, but only 14 players have fully guaranteed deals, and they are $11.2 million clear of the second apron. AJ Lawson is the player with a non-guaranteed contract.

Quentin Grimes

Grimes has long been considered a 3-D player. The 24-year-old hasn’t lived up to that billing on either end despite only shooting 3-pointers. He is an above-average 3-point shooter who is automatic from the corners. But he struggled last season after a breakout sophomore campaign and really doesn’t provide much other than potential shooting.

“I feel like with the unselfishness and the amount of freedom everybody has, I’ll be able to show more like how I did in New York,” Grimes told  Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News writes. “Whenever somebody was down and injured, I was always able to show more of my offensive game.”

Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie can play both guard positions and has been a significant contributor for several years. The 30-year-old has played with both Irving and Doncic before. He is an outstanding ball handler and distributor, and while not a good shooter, he can score and get to the line.

However, Dinwiddie has experienced the most success in his previous stop in Dallas. In 76 games with the Mavericks, Dinwiddie averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 46.6% from the field and 40.4% from deep.

“Probably the most consistent basketball I’ve played has been in a Mavs jersey. The farthest I’ve gone in the playoffs — the Western Conference Finals — was in a Mavs jersey,” Dinwiddie told Sasha Richie of The Dallas Morning News. “These guys are my friends. I’m still familiar with over half the team.”

Jaden Hardy

The Mavericks have had high hopes for the 22-year-old since acquiring him from Sacramento on 2023 draft day. Hardy is a versatile athlete who was part of the Mavs rotation last year. He can score and is a good 3-point shooter.

Last Word

Dinwiddie appears to be the best option for taking over Exum’s role. However, Grimes will likely see plenty of time between the 2 and 3. Hardy is likely destined to be the fifth guard.