Stein: Irving is injured and provides opportunities to stay in the team. Exam and Mavericks will reach a new contract

On June 3, according to famous reporter Marc Stein, despite rumors that veteran defender Exam is targeted by Turkish team Fenerbahce, he prefers to stay in the NBA in the 2025-26 season.

Stein said Exam played for the Mavericks in the past two years and the two sides are currently interested in reaching a new contract.

As the No. 5 pick in the 2014 draft, Exam spent the first seven years of his career in the NBA, playing for the Jazz and the Cavaliers, but due to insufficient offensive output, he has always struggled to become a reliable rotation player. In the 2021-23 season, he played in Europe for two seasons, developing stable three-point shooting ability while playing for Barcelona and Belgrade guerrillas, and returned to the United States in the offseason in 2023.

Injury issues hindered Exam's development early in his career, and in his second NBA career, injuries remained a major hidden danger. He has played in a total of only 75 games in the past two seasons. But when he stayed healthy, he played an efficient role player in the Mavericks: 19.5 minutes per game, 8.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds, shooting 51.6% from the field, 47.2% from three-pointers and 76.8% from free throws.

Stein pointed out that since Irving's ACL surgery recovery period is expected to continue into the fall, the Mavericks need to supplement their backcourt forces next season, which provides an opportunity for Exam's return.