Mavericks expected to come to an agreement with free agent D'Angelo Russell

Kyrie Irving’s acceptance of a three-year, $119 million contract — taking a pay cut for this season after declining his $43 million player option — allowed the Mavericks to maintain access to the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The plan for that slot is to sign a lead guard who can start while Irving recovers from his torn left ACL and transition to a key reserve role upon the nine-time All-Star’s return. Candidates include D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Paul and Tyus Jones, sources said. (The Mavs had interest in Dennis Schroder, but he is expected to command a significantly higher salary.) -via ESPN / June 30, 2025

The Stein Line has reported on numerous occasions this month that Dallas has been hoping to make a free agent run at Chris Paul but is widely regarded as a strong favorite to come to terms with another former All-Star — Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell — once free agency officially beings Monday night … essentially because the Mavericks regard Russell as far more attainable. Paul does not appear to be interested in spending another season in Texas with his children, both teenagers, in Southern California. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 29, 2025

Free agency doesn’t officially start until Monday at 6 PM ET, but league sources say that numerous teams are operating under the belief that the Sacramento Kings have the best chance to sign Dennis Schröder away from the Detroit Pistons, while the Dallas Mavericks are increasingly regarded as the favorites to sign D’Angelo Russell. -via marcstein.substack.com / June 28, 2025