Dante Exum, who battled through a plantar injury last season to become a reliable part of the Mavericks’ rotation, is out again, this time with a wrist injury.
The Mavericks announced the right wrist injury, but it was Shams Charania of The Athletics who filled in the details that this was a “serious” wrist injury that could require surgery. While we won’t be in the next few days, expect Exum to be out until the start of the season and possibly much longer.
Dallas has the depth to cover this injury. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will start at the guard spots with Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy getting more minutes off the bench to start the season, plus Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes can be worked into the two-guard rotation (Thompson will start as the Mavericks) . ‘ forward this season).
Last season, Exum earned his way into the Mavericks rotation, averaging 7.8 points and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes per game. He was moved into the starting lineup in January, which is when he suffered a plantar injury that sidelined him for two months (he played in 55 games last season). His role shrunk in the playoffs, but he still logged 21 games for Dallas during its run to the Finals.
This injury comes a day after the mavericks announced that Luka Doncic has a left calf contusion that will have him reevaluated in a week but his availability for the season opener on Oct. 24 is not expected.
