West Notes: Mavericks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, trade rumors, Timberwolves, Nikola Jokic

The Mavericks are still trying to make good on their July agreement to bring back free agent guard Dante Exum.

And according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Dallas has intensified efforts to open cap space below the dreaded second-apron hard cap, with trade talks centering on forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Dallas hard-capped itself by using the taxpayer mid-level exception on D’Angelo Russell, leaving just $1.6 million in wiggle room under the $207.8 million apron. Exum’s minimum deal would hit the cap at $2.3 million, so something has to give.

Prosper, the 24th pick in the 2023 draft, has struggled to find minutes and is owed $3 million this season. He’s the logical odd man out, and the Mavericks are exploring trades while dangling cash or a future second-rounder to sweeten the deal.

If they can’t find a taker, waiving and stretching Prosper before Friday is on the table, which would spread his contract across three years at about $1 million annually.

Dallas has only two tradable second-round picks left (2030 Philly and 2032 Dallas), so giving one up is no small decision. Still, if the Mavs want Exum officially signed and sealed before camp, something’s got to move.

Timberwolves hire Caldwell as CEO: The Timberwolves’ new ownership duo of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have made their first big hire. The franchise announced Matthew Caldwell as its new CEO, effective Sept. 2. Caldwell had been running the Florida Panthers, who just capped back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.

Lore and A-Rod handed Caldwell a 10-year deal to oversee day-to-day business operations and strategic direction for the Wolves, Lynx, and G League Iowa Wolves. The Panthers’ turnaround under Caldwell earned them the 2025 Sports Business Journal Team of the Year award, and Minnesota is banking on that same vision to guide their next chapter.

ESPN panel favors Jokic for 2026 MVP: No surprise here: Nikola Jokic is the early favorite to win a fourth MVP, per an ESPN panel of insiders. Luka Doncic came in as the runner-up pick, with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander third.

Other projected award winners included Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year and Alex Caruso and Naz Reid splitting the most support for Sixth Man.

The Nuggets already look like contenders again, and Jokic — who has three MVPs and two Finals trips in the past five years — could soon be stacking hardware right alongside LeBron and Jordan in the all-time conversation.