The Dallas Mavericks have made some major moves over the past few months and are likely to add a new franchise star by drafting Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Dallas is also reportedly the ‘leading suitors’ to land former All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The move would come after Dallas most recently signed Kyrie Irving to a three-year $119 million extension.
“The Mavs can make a free agent run at Russell because Kyrie Irving’s new deal has a lower Year 1 salary than his $43M player option,” Stein wrote on X.
Russell will be a free agent this offseason, coming off a two-year $36 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 before they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season. The 29-year-old averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 58 regular season games.
Russell As An Irving Replacement
Dallas will lose point guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Dante Exum in free agency, while Irving expects to miss most of the 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL in March.
The Mavericks reportedly showed interest in other replacements like Jrue Holiday, Chris Paul, Malcolm Brogdon, and Lonzo Ball, but the latest reporting from Stein shows that they now have their sights set on Russell.
Russell is an experienced player and former All-Star who has played with Anthony Davis in the past. The guard had a down year this past season, but before that had six consecutive years scoring at least 17 points per game.
While the Mavericks are looking for a veteran guard to take Irving’s place, Russell could come in on a team-friendly contract and immediately contribute to them making a playoff run.
ESPN’s Shams Charania also said that Dallas is hoping to find a starter in free agency as Irving’s extension frees up money to spend this summer.
“They need to find a point guard that they can bring in, can play as a starter while Kyrie Irving is out,” Charania said. “I’m told two names to keep an eye on are there, D’Angelo Russell and Malcolm Brogdon.”
Russell has bounced around the league since he was named an All-Star with the Nets in 2019. While his defensive ceiling doesn’t reach that of a player like Holiday or Brodgon, when healthy, he is a strong offensive piece who can fit alongside their other stars.
Mavericks Focused On Winning Now
Along with the Irving extension, Dallas signed big man Daniel Gafford to a three-year $60 million deal. With Gafford, Davis, and Derrick Lively II, they have one of the strongest frontcourts in the league.
The Mavericks also have Klay Thompson under contract and expect to add Flagg during the draft. While they have a mix of both younger and experienced players, the only thing they are lacking is a playmaker.
Russell could come in on a veteran minimum contract worth $5.7 million, and that would drastically help the Mavericks, who have committed a lot of money to their currently constructed lineup. He might be their best bet to find a cheap point guard in free agency, and he’s a player who has played with both superstars and former first-overall picks in the past.
While it won’t be a one-for-one replacement for Irving, the Mavericks signing Russell would show that they are ready to make a run against the West’s top teams next season. After missing the playoffs with a 39-43 record in the regular season, Dallas is hoping to bounce back after a year that saw them trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
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