The Dallas Mavericks had D’Angelo Russell higher on their free agent wish list than Chris Paul, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The Mavericks signed Russell to a two-year, $11.7 million contract on July 6. Russell played with Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“One source with knowledge of the Mavericks’ thinking, for the record, insists that Dallas had D’Angelo Russell higher on its free agent wish list than Chris Paul,” Stein wrote. “For two reasons. There is a belief in Dallas that Russell, in addition to leading the Mavericks’ efforts to cope without the injured Kyrie Irving, will find it easier to carve out a supplementary role when Irving is back playing after rehabbing from his ACL tear.
“Dallas is also said to see him as a better fit alongside star big man Anthony Davis after Davis and Russell just played together with the Lakers.”
Russell will start for the Mavericks at point guard next season until Irving is back from his ACL injury. The lefty played for the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets last season, averaging 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 58 games. The 29-year-old shot 39.0% overall, 31.4% from beyond the arc and 83.4% from the foul line.
Russell has played for the Lakers (twice), Nets (twice), Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Ohio State product, who has been traded by every team he’s played for, has career averages of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Russell will wear No. 5 with the Mavericks, who missed the playoffs last season after making the NBA Finals in 2024. Dallas general manager Nico Harrison traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Davis and Max Christie in February.