Free Agent D'Angelo Russell Reunites with Former Teammates in Mavericks Key Signing

Just a few hours into the NBA free agency window, the Dallas Mavericks followed their predicted game plan by targeting a point guard to fill in the starting lineup during Kyrie Irving's ACL recovery for the first few months of the season.

Sources confirm that Dallas has agreed to terms with Brooklyn Nets free-agent point guard D'Angelo Russell on a two-year, $13 million contract that utilizes the taxpayer mid-level exception unlocked after Irving and Daniel Gafford's re-signings.

For Russell, it's a reunion of sorts getting to play with Anthony Davis and Max Christie in Dallas after the trio started last season together on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Russell was traded to Brooklyn midseason for former Maverick Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton and multiple draft picks. Davis and Christie were infamously a part of the controversial trade that sent franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to Hollywood and knocked the Mavericks' season off kilter for good.

Heading into next season, however, Dallas could be as dangerous as ever with Russell being the latest enhancement to a roster loaded with firepower.

Investigating the Russell/Davis/Christie trio a bit deeper, you'll find that the Lakers had an impressive net rating of +9.4 overall, with an offensive rating of 115.7 and defensive rating of 106.3 when those three were on the floor together for the Lakers last season.

Their familiarity on both ends of the court could be vital in the Mavs getting off to an efficient start to the season without their leading scorer Irving in the lineup.

Russell's passing and scoring ability will be a major plus in a versatile starting lineup projected to include sharpshooter Klay Thompson, No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg, two-way star Davis and athletic youngster Dereck Lively II.

Last season Russell finished the year averaging 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He saw a decline in his shooting efficiency, but in his last full season with one team (2023-24 with Lakers) he shot 45.6 percent from the field and a sturdy 41.5 percent from three-point range - the best mark of his 10-year career.

Those triples came with volume, too. Russell made the 10th most three-pointers in the NBA in 2023-24 with 226, another massive career-high.

Dallas hopes starting fresh with a new team, familiar teammates and high work load right from the jump can replicate that productivity from Russell.

That optimism then hopes to be realized in the win column before the Mavs become even more dangerous down the line.