Since the beginning of the offseason, it was clear that the Dallas Mavericks needed playmaking and a jolt of offensive life with Kyrie Irving sidelined for the beginning of this season, even with Cooper Flagg coming to town. With this in mind,the Mavericks signed D'Angelo Russell in a move that many doubters thought was overrated and destined for disaster, considering how much the Mavericks were going to be relying on Russell.
While Russell chose to be in Dallas on a lesser prove-it type contract, he likely understood that with the Mavericks, he would have the best opportunity to turn his career around and earn a potential payday next summer.