When the Dallas Mavericks officially signed D'Angelo Russell, it was one of the most under-the-radar offseason moves across the league that might actually turn out to be a real needle-mover. While other teams spent big on flashy names or made headlines chasing stars, Dallas simply went out and signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million deal. It did not light up the internet, but it might prove to be exactly what this team needed.
Of course, there was no shortage of scoffs at the news. Russell's name comes with baggage, and a lot of fans are quick to point out his history of defensive lapses or cold shooting stretches.