The NBA Summer League has just wrapped up, and many teams' main focus is finalizing their 15-man roster. Some teams are nearly complete, while others face dilemmas, such as an overloaded frontcourt. This is something the Dallas Mavericks are no stranger to.
The team currently has an overloaded frontcourt after trading for Anthony Davis, as they sought to bring in a two-way player with strong defensive skills. Dallas also added to their forward position by drafting Cooper Flagg, a player they couldn't pass up on. This is now an issue that may not seem like a big deal, but might cause problems for a current Maverick. Basically, Flagg's arrival could be the final nail in the coffin for Olivier-Maxence Prosper and his role within the rotation.
Last season, Prosper played 52 games, as injuries derailed his season. He suffered a right wrist injury that ended his season and forced him to miss significant time. This was a huge blow, as it hindered his growth and development in the league. If you recall, Prosper didn't play much in the 2023-24 season, and spent a decent chunk of his rookie year in the G League. This means that he has played 92 out of 164 matches. This is bad news for his development, and Flagg's addition could hurt Prosper's chances of finding significant playing time in the upcoming year.
Prosper's playing time will hit rock bottom with Flagg now in the mix
The Mavericks kicked off the offseason by drafting Duke phenom Cooper Flagg. The Dallas rookie was the perfect player to pair alongside Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, as he had all the intangibles to help form a dominant trio. Flagg's high level of play and expectations, though, could mean the final straw for Prosper.
Currently, the team's bench is loaded with multiple options at the forward position. Some names include P.J. Washington, who could be moved to the bench because of Flagg's arrival. It's likely the Mavs will not give up on Washington, as he could still be finding significant playing time. Washington played a key role for Dallas the past two seasons and was a major contributor during Dallas' 2024 NBA Finals run.
So, it makes sense to think Washington could be a top bench player for Dallas. He, along with Naji Marshall, could be the top contributors. Marshall saw an increase in minutes towards the tail end of the season, as he played multiple positions. He played a key role in helping fill in whenever Irving went out for the season. This gives probable cause to prove that Marshall will be important to the Mavs' bench. He is a high-level wing player who plays both sides of the ball.
Particularly, it makes sense to think Washington and Marshall, along with Daniel Gafford, will be the top names called off the bench. It's not hard to imagine a scenario where Flagg is the team's top small forward option, and Washington/Marshall are the backups. Assuming this is the case, it would be bad news for Prosper, as he would become the team's fourth and final option.
This would be a devastating blow for Prosper, as he'll likely struggle to find significant playing time again. The Mavs' young forward has struggled to show improvement in the past two seasons, and his movement to the bottom of the bench could derail his status once again.
Prosper has averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds over the past two seasons. His numbers failed to improve over the past year, and with Flagg's arrival, he may once again be overlooked. This would then hurt his chances of developing in a league loaded with forwards.
His inability to leap might also force the Mavs to make a trade. For example, Prosper was left off the team's Summer League roster, and this could spell bad news. If the team wanted to see him develop, then they would have put him on the roster, as it would have allowed him to grow. So why would the team leave him off? Are they hinting at something, or is he still recovering from his wrist injury?
I mean, a Prosper trade would make sense. Dallas, as mentioned, has a loaded frontcourt. This would mean his playing time would diminish. Plus, the team recently acquired Dante Exum, meaning they are over roster capacity. So, this is another reason why he could be traded. Prosper in general would be the odd man out.
Considerably, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Prosper's minutes decrease or he is traded altogether. A trade might be his best option if he hopes to show improvement. It's unlikely he sees significant minutes in the Mavs' rotation. However you see it, Flagg is here to stay, and this could spell bad news for Prosper.
