July 6: Russell’s deal is official, according to the Mavericks (Twitter link).
June 30: The Mavericks are signing free agent guard D’Angelo Russell to a two-year contract, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The second year will be a player option, Charania notes (via Twitter).
While Charania states that Russell’s deal is worth $13MM, veteran reporter Marc Stein hears (via Twitter) it’s just shy of $12MM.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks confirms (Twitter links) that Russell will be signed using the taxpayer mid-level exception, which will hard-cap the Mavs at the second tax apron. Dallas is about $1.6MM below the second apron, Marks adds.
Stein reported multiple times leading up to free agency that Dallas was the frontrunner to sign Russell to a two-year deal using the taxpayer version of the MLE. Assuming he received the full amount, he will earn $11,654,250 over the next two years.
Russell is a one-time All-Star who is taking a steep pay cut, having earned $18.7MM in 2024/25.
The second overall pick of the 2015 draft, Russell is coming off a down season in which he averaged 12.6 points, 5.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 58 combined appearances with the Lakers and Nets (25.5 minutes per game). 12.6 PPG and 25.5 MPG represented career lows for Russell, who also posted career-worst percentages from the field (39.0%) and from three-point range (31.4%).
While he is a talented scorer and play-maker who is capable of carrying an offense for stretches, Russell tends to be quite streaky and is a subpar defender. The 29-year-old will likely be the starting point guard for the Mavs until Kyrie Irving is able to return from the torn ACL he sustained in early March.
But defense wins championships….
He’ll teach Cooper how to D up.
1. Watch the ball.
2. Race to get outlet when they dunk on you.
Good pick up for Mavs. Talented kid with a reputation for being a bit of a bone head. Still young enough that he may benefit from Jkids tutelage and having Kyrie in his ear.
Kid? He’s been in the league for 10 years. If he’s still a bone head after 10 seasons. He’s always going to be a bone head.
Addition by subtraction for Bklyn.
Of all the stopgap guys they go with D low? Why not tyus jones or anybody else who is available.
Tyus Jones was signed.
Starting 4 players would’ve also worked.
Or have J Kidd suit up.
I thought Flagg was going to be their pg.