The Dallas Mavericks believe they’ve found a versatile backcourt option in D’Angelo Russell.
As reported by Keith Smith of Spotrac, a Mavericks coach said, “We had to get a guy a who could play in place of Kyrie (Irving) while he’s out. But that guy also needed to play with Kyrie too. We feel like DLo fits that perfectly.”
Russell agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with Dallas, joining the Western Conference champions using their $5.7 million tax midlevel exception.
He arrives after finishing last season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 assists across 76 games split between Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Irving sidelined recovering from ACL surgery, Russell is expected to take on starting point guard duties to begin the 2025–26 season.
Once Irving returns, the coaching staff envisions Russell sliding into a complementary scoring and playmaking role off the ball.
“We also like that he can shift off the ball with Cooper (Flagg) handling the playmaking too,” the Mavericks coach told Spotrac.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is expected to be a high-usage forward and secondary initiator in the Mavs’ offense.
The ability for Russell to operate on or off the ball gives head coach Jason Kidd additional lineup flexibility, especially as the team integrates new pieces into its rotation.
Russell shot 41.5% from three last season and brings veteran experience to a roster aiming for another deep postseason run.
His previous stints with the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Lakers showcased his ability to create off the dribble and initiate pick-and-roll offense.
