With NBA free agency set to begin Monday evening, the Dallas Mavericks are focused on veteran point guard options. League sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com that D’Angelo Russell has become a player of strong interest for the team as it prepares to spend its $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Mavericks preserved their taxpayer mid-level exception with Kyrie Irving agreeing to a new three-year, $119 million contract with a player option for the 2027–28 season. Russell has since emerged as a top target to fill that need, offering Dallas a veteran scorer and playmaker who could alleviate pressure alongside Anthony Davis and eventually return to a complementary role when Irving is healthy.
Russell, who split last season between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, is coming off one of the least efficient campaigns of his career. He averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 39.0% from the field and 31.4% from three. Still, his track record makes him one of the more intriguing mid-tier guard options in the right situation.
Russell played alongside Davis and Max Christie in Los Angeles and has ties to assistant general manager Matt Riccardi, who was part of the Brooklyn front office during Russell’s rise there.
Internal maneuvering has added to the Mavericks’ challenges and limited their financial flexibility. Signing Jaden Hardy to a three-year, $18 million extension has placed him above the taxpayer mid-level threshold for next season despite not fully breaking into the core rotation. In a separate move, Dallas traded Quentin Grimes and the No. 35 pick for Caleb Martin, who is set to earn just under $9.6 million this season.
Those financial decisions, combined with Cooper Flagg’s upcoming $62.7 million rookie deal, risked pushing Dallas above the Second Apron. Russell landing in Dallas would bring the team to 15 players under contract, leaving no space for unrestricted free agents Spencer Dinwiddie or Danté Exum unless a trade is made. Exum remains the more likely candidate to return, per sources. However, moving on from a fringe player would be necessary, with Olivier-Maxence Prosper as a possible trade candidate.
Brandon Williams is under contract for next season, though only $200,000 of his $2.3 million salary becomes guaranteed on July 7. The remainder escalates in stages, fully guaranteed on January 10 if he remains on the roster. Ryan Nembhard, meanwhile, holds a two-way contract and is not expected to be part of the early-season guard rotation, but it’s early.
Negotiations with free agents officially open at 5 p.m. CT on Monday.
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