In a significant move for their backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks have officially signed free agent guard D’Angelo Russell to a two-year contract, with sources confirming the details. The second year of the deal will include a player option, which adds an interesting layer of flexibility for both Russell and the team moving forward.
Contract details seem to vary slightly, with reports indicating Russell’s deal could be worth around $13 million, although veteran reporter Marc Stein places that figure just shy of $12 million. Either way, he’ll be making use of the taxpayer mid-level exception, which sets a hard cap on the Mavericks at the second tax apron. Currently, Dallas is around $1.6 million below that threshold, giving them room to maneuver within the confines of their financial landscape.
Leading into free agency, Stein relayed that Dallas was positioned as the frontrunner for Russell’s signature, and it appears the Mavericks have successfully solidified that expectation. If Russell takes the full offer, he stands to make $11,654,250 over the next two seasons.
Once a celebrated All-Star, Russell is indeed making a noteworthy concession in salary—having previously earned $18.7 million for the 2024-25 season. The second overall pick from the 2015 NBA Draft is coming off a challenging season, where he averaged 12.6 points, 5.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steal over 58 appearances with the Lakers and Nets, clocking in at 25.5 minutes per game. Those averages reflect career lows for Russell, who also struggled statistically, achieving career-worst shooting percentages — just 39.0% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc.
Despite his ups and downs, Russell is known for his scoring ability and play-making skills, capable of shouldering the offensive load when he’s on his game. However, his performance can be inconsistent, and his defensive capabilities have often come into question. At this point, he’ll likely step in as the starting point guard for Dallas, filling a crucial role as the team waits for Kyrie Irving to recover from the torn ACL he suffered early in March.
As the Mavericks look to build momentum going forward, Russell’s presence could be a defining factor in how they navigate the upcoming season—bringing a mix of talent and potential that keeps fans hopeful for a successful run.
