Sources: Dallas Mavericks Eye Point Guard With Taxpayer MLE as Free Agency Nears

With Kyrie Irving expected to miss extended time recovering from a torn ACL, the Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to pursue a veteran point guard in free agency using the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com. The three-year, $119 million contract agreement that Irving reached occurred at a price point that enabled Dallas to maintain that spending mechanism.

Multiple agents with point guards in this year’s free agent class told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Mavericks represent a strong opportunity to build value, pointing to the available minutes and a team built to win now. D’Angelo Russell is among top names to monitor, per sources.

“A lot of players want to come play in Dallas, so I think we’ll have our choice based upon the money and the opportunity we have,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said after the first round of the NBA Draft. “Obviously, there’s limitations to us having our choice, but I think all things equal in terms of money, we’ll have our choice of player that we want to get. Super confident in that.”

Fit with D’Angelo Russell and the Dallas Mavericks

Russell is coming off a challenging season split between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets. Across 58 games played, he averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 25.5 minutes, shooting 39.0% from the field and just 31.4% from beyond the arc. His efficiency dip marked one of the least productive campaigns of his career. Russell’s time with the Lakers gave him experience as a teammate with current Mavericks players Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

When Russell made his lone All-Star appearance in 2018–19 with the Nets—averaging 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists—current Mavericks assistant general manager Matt Riccardi was part of the Nets organization. While current needs drive Dallas’ interest, that connection adds another insight for the Mavericks as they evaluate potential fits.

As league sources have told DallasHoopsJournal.com, Chris Paul is not considered a viable option for the Mavericks. The expectation continues to be that he will seek a return to the West Coast to be near Los Angeles for his family. Additionally, Dennis Schröder, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tyus Jones are other point guards being monitored by teams in the market, especially the Sacramento Kings.

Cap Decisions Limit Flexibility

A previous maneuver costing Dallas now includes extending Jaden Hardy on a three-year, $18 million deal in October. To contextualize the value of that deal now, Hardy’s $6 million salary for 2025-26 exceeds the taxpayer mid-level exception. He has yet to fully emerge as a consistent rotation player, averaging 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists last season.

Further worsening the Mavericks’ financial outlook included a midseason trade sending Quentin Grimes and what became the No. 35 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Caleb Martin, who will earn just under $9.6 million this season.

Cooper Flagg, eligible to sign a four-year contract worth over $62.7 million, could have pushed Dallas above the Second Apron, but Irving taking less helped with positioning. Regardless, with Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Christie, and Martin on the wing, along with Flagg, Dallas has a lot of spending on that part of the roster.

Potential Additional Moves for the Dallas Mavericks

If Dallas signs Russell, the Mavericks will have 15 players under contract for 2025-26, without impending free agent guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Danté Exum among them. A trade would be needed to open up an additional roster spot to re-sign either. Exum is considered more likely to re-sign at this time.

Brandon Williams, who had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal before the end of the season, is under contract for 2025–26 at just under $2.3 million. His salary comes with structured guarantee thresholds: $200,000 becomes guaranteed on July 7, $850,000 becomes guaranteed on opening night, and the remainder becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster through January 10.

The Mavericks have Ryan Nembhard on a two-way contract, who joins the roster as an additional developmental option but similarly isn’t expected to factor into immediate rotation plans.

Teams have been allowed to talk with their own free agents since the day after the NBA Finals ended. Negotiations with all free agents can begin Monday, June 30 at 5 p.m. CT.

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