Free agent guard Dante Exum has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
Exum considered two other contenders but returns to Dallas to share ball-handling duties to start the season with D’Angelo Russell.
Exum has averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 assists per game during his two seasons in Dallas and is valued as a versatile perimeter defender. He was limited to only 20 games last season due to a fractured wrist and broken hand.
Exum’s return, along with the signing of Russell with the taxpayer midlevel exception, provides Dallas backcourt depth while nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving recovers from a knee injury that is expected to sideline him until at least January.
The Mavs will need to make a corresponding roster move to remain under the salary cap’s second apron after re-signing Exum, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.
Source: espn.com