The Chicago Bulls should seize the opportunity to sign newly minted free agent Olivier Maxence-Prosper after the Dallas Mavericks released the young forward.
Dallas released the 23-year-old and stretched the $3 million remaining on his rookie contract to make room to sign Dante Exum to a minimum-salary deal, thereby remaining under the second apron. Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Mavericks attempted to trade Maxence-Prosper but chose not to include a future second-round pick to sweeten any deal.
Scotto adds that the former Marquette standout is expected to “draw free agency interest” now that he’s hit the market, and the Bulls should throw their hat into the ring.
The Chicago Bulls should take a flyer on Olivier Maxence-Prosper
Adding Maxence-Prosper would require clearing a roster spot (releasing guard Jevon Carter or potentially adding the former Maverick on a two-way contract and letting Emmanuel Miller or Yuki Kawamura go would work), but bringing the third-year player on board would fit with the Bulls’ recent emphasis on collecting young, athletic, potential-laden forwards.
His stats won’t blow anyone away — 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 11.2 minutes per game, 52 games last season — but O-Max’s elite physical traits should be attractive to Chicago and head coach Billy Donovan. The product of Lake Forest Academy in Illinois measured in at just under 6-foot-7 barefoot at the 2023 draft combine and boasts a 7-foot-1 wingspan and 8-foot-8 standing reach. His 40.5′ max vertical at that size shows how explosive he can be as a defender and at the rim.
Maxence-Prosper is long, strong and plays with an unrelenting motor on defense. He has the requisite size and athleticism to switch across multiple positions, from two-guards to power forwards. He hasn’t developed into a strong shooter at the NBA level, but he hit 75 percent of his free throws in his three seasons at Marquette and went from shooting 16.7 percent from three as a freshman (0.8 attempts) to 33.9 percent as a junior (3.2 attempts) before declaring for the draft.
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and the Bulls front office have made a point to acquire long, versatile, athletic forwards who can cause havoc on defense and run the floor in transition. Chicago sent Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro and drafted lanky French forward Noa Essengue at No. 12 in the 2025 NBA Draft. Matas Buzelis is already entrenched as a franchise centerpiece, and Patrick Williams is still around.
Maxence-Prosper’s impact probably won’t ever come in the box score, but his natural physical gifts and high motor would make him a useful, cheap and well-fitting rotation piece for the Bulls.
