Mavericks can’t wait to trade D’Angelo Russell if new rumors are true

Mavericks Can’t Wait to Trade D’Angelo Russell If New Rumors Are True

A Short-Lived Experiment Gone Sour

In the high-stakes world of the NBA, where roster spots are as precious as championship rings, the Dallas Mavericks’ signing of D’Angelo Russell in the summer of 2025 was supposed to be a low-risk, high-reward move. Fresh off a tumultuous 2024-25 season that saw the shocking trade of Luka Dončić to the Lakers and a season-ending ACL tear for Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks desperately needed a ball-handler to bridge the gap. Russell, the enigmatic guard with a résumé that included an All-Star nod and an NBA Cup, seemed like the perfect stopgap. Signed to a team-friendly two-year, $13 million deal using the taxpayer mid-level exception, he was poised to reunite with former Lakers teammate Anthony Davis and provide stability at the point while Irving rehabbed.

But as the 2025-26 season has unfolded, the Russell experiment has devolved into a cautionary tale. Just five months after inking the deal, reports surfaced on December 9, 2025, courtesy of ESPN’s Shams Charania, that the Mavericks are “open to exploring the trade markets” for Russell—alongside heavyweights like Davis, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford. The timing couldn’t be more telling: Dallas sits at 9-16, mired in 11th place in the Western Conference, and Russell’s middling production, defensive lapses, and reported locker room friction have made him expendable. If these rumors hold water, the Mavericks can’t wait to move on from a player who was never truly a fit in their evolving ecosystem.

This isn’t just about one guard’s struggles; it’s a symptom of a franchise in flux. With rookie sensation Cooper Flagg emerging as the new cornerstone and a front office shakeup that saw GM Nico Harrison fired earlier in the month, Dallas is signaling a pivot toward youth and defense. Russell, at 29, represents the old guard—one that’s flashy but flawed, creative but careless. As the trade deadline looms on February 6, 2026, the buzz around DLo’s potential departure is growing louder, and for good reason. In this deep dive, we’ll unpack the hype, the harsh reality, the numbers that don’t lie, and the destinations that could beckon him next. (Word count so far: 378)

The Honeymoon Phase: Why Dallas Bet on D’Angelo Russell

To understand the unraveling, we first need to rewind to the summer of 2025. The Mavericks’ 2024-25 campaign was a rollercoaster of heartbreak. Trading Dončić—the face of the franchise—for a package headlined by Davis and draft picks was a bold, controversial gamble aimed at accelerating a title push around Irving and a revamped core. But Irving’s ACL injury in March derailed everything, leaving Dallas scrambling in the play-in tournament and finishing 10th in the West with a 39-43 record. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft? Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, a 6’9″ Swiss Army knife who promised versatility but not immediate point-guard prowess.

Enter free agency. With Irving declining his $36.7 million player option to restructure for flexibility, Dallas had access to the $5.7 million taxpayer MLE. Shams Charania first reported on June 30, 2025, that Russell was the “primary target,” a reunion with Davis that evoked memories of their 2023 championship run in L.A. Marc Stein of The New York Times echoed this, calling Dallas the “frontrunner” for the 29-year-old, who was coming off a down year split between the Lakers and Nets: 12.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds on dismal 39.0% field goal and 31.4% three-point shooting.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie broke down the fit in a July 1 piece: “Russell addresses Dallas’ biggest question mark—guard play.” Post-Dončić, the Mavs ranked dead last in three-point attempts (32.5 per game) and desperately needed a creator who could stretch defenses. Russell’s career 36.3% from deep and playmaking (career 5.7 assists) seemed tailor-made. Plus, at just shy of $12 million over two years (with a player option in the second), it was a steal. Hoops Rumors confirmed the signing on July 6, noting it hard-capped Dallas at the second apron but preserved flexibility.

Fans bought in. Social media lit up with memes of Russell and Davis recreating their Lakers glory, and Mavs Moneyball’s Kirk Henderson wrote glowingly: “DLo’s the stop-gap we need until Kyrie returns.” Even skeptics like Swaggy P (Nick Young), who harbors a grudge from their Lakers days over a leaked locker-room video, couldn’t dampen the optimism entirely—though he tweeted, “Mavs are gonna lose now.” Russell himself seemed motivated, telling reporters at his intro presser: “I’m here to win with AD and the young guys. Dallas feels like home already.”

Early preseason flashes validated the hype. In an October 2025 exhibition against the Thunder, Russell dropped 18 points and seven assists, looking every bit the maestro. As training camp wrapped, Jason Kidd praised his “professionalism,” and the rotation crystallized: Flagg experimenting at point, Irving sidelined, and Russell as the primary bench spark. It was a fresh start for a player who’d bounced from the Lakers (drafted No. 2 in 2015), Warriors, Timberwolves, and back to Brooklyn. Little did Dallas know, the cracks were already forming. (Word count so far: 892)

Cracks in the Foundation: Early Signs of Misfit

The regular season tipped off on October 21, 2025, and Russell’s integration was rocky from the jump. Dallas opened with a 112-105 win over the Clippers, but DLo managed just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench. Pundits shrugged it off—rust, new system, whatever. But as the games piled up, patterns emerged that exposed why Russell wasn’t built for Dallas’ post-Dončić blueprint.

First, the offense. Kidd’s scheme emphasizes pace, ball movement, and defensive versatility, with Flagg’s length anchoring the core alongside Davis’ rim protection and Thompson’s spacing. Russell, a score-first guard, thrives in isolation-heavy sets but chafes in a motion offense. In the Mavs’ 4-12 skid through mid-November, Russell’s usage rate hovered at 26.5%, but his true shooting percentage dipped to 50.7%—below league average. A November 7 loss to the Thunder highlighted this: Russell tallied 12 points and six assists but turned it over four times, including a costly strip by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in crunch time.

Defensively, it was worse. Russell’s career defensive rating sits at 114.2, and in Dallas, it ballooned to 118.5 early on. His lackadaisical closeouts and poor screen navigation left Flagg and Davis overhelping, inflating opponents’ three-point makes (38.2% allowed with Russell on the floor). The Smoking Cuban nailed it in an October 28 analysis: “Russell’s a black hole on D—costly in tight games.” A 101-99 heartbreaker against the Pelicans on November 20 saw him targeted relentlessly, finishing with nine points, three assists, and a -12 plus-minus in 21 minutes.

Teammate frustration simmered beneath the surface. Reports from Dallas Hoops Journal’s Ashish Mathur on November 20 revealed the locker room rift: “Russell has rubbed several teammates the wrong way with his approach in practice and lackadaisical effort on defense.” Sources described half-hearted drills and a “me-first” vibe clashing with the Mavs’ “no shortcuts” ethos, instilled by Kidd and veterans like Davis. Even Flagg, the 19-year-old prodigy averaging 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, was overheard venting post-practice about covering for Russell’s lapses.

The benching came swiftly. After a November 18 experiment starting Flagg at point guard flopped (Dallas shot 37.9% from the field in a loss to OKC), Kidd pivoted to undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard as the starter. The Gonzaga product, brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, brought poise: 8.4 points, 6.2 assists, and a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio in his first 10 starts. Brandon Williams, a lightning-quick second-year guard, earned bench minutes with his hustle. Russell? Demoted to third-string, averaging 15.5 minutes over his last four games as of December 5.

A brief resurgence followed—a 23-point explosion (9-of-15 FG, 4-of-7 3PT) in a November 25 loss to the Knicks—but it was too little, too late. By December, with Dallas winning four of five (including upsets over Denver and Houston), Russell was an afterthought: four points in 13 minutes against the Rockets on December 6. The realization hit: This wasn’t working. (Word count so far: 1,456)

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Russell’s Dallas Stats in Black and White

Let’s cut through the narrative with cold, hard data. Through 21 games in 2025-26 (as of December 11), Russell’s stat line with Dallas is underwhelming: 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 20.3 minutes. His shooting splits—40.3% FG, 28.7% 3PT, 70.7% FT—mark career lows, per ESPN and NBA.com tracking.

Break it down monthly:

(Source: ESPN Game Logs, NBA.com Advanced Stats)

On/off differentials paint a grim picture: Dallas outscores opponents by 2.1 points per 100 possessions with Russell off the floor, but gets outscored by 5.4 when he’s on. His player efficiency rating (PER) sits at 12.3—below replacement level—and his box plus-minus is -2.7, per Basketball-Reference. Advanced metrics from Cleaning the Glass show a 33.1% usage rate that’s inefficient: 0.92 points per possession on isos, ranking in the 15th percentile.

Comparatively, Nembhard’s insertion has juiced the offense: The Mavs’ offensive rating jumps from 108.2 (with Russell) to 114.6 (with Nembhard starting). Russell’s one highlight? A season-high 12-assist game on November 10 against the Raptors, but even then, his nine points on 3-of-14 shooting underscored the boom-or-bust nature that’s plagued him since Ohio State.

In a December 3 win over Miami (118-108), Russell mustered 10 points in 15 minutes—efficient but irrelevant. Four days later, eight points (3-of-8 FG) in 18 minutes against Denver. The trend: Diminishing returns as Dallas leans on youth. As CBS Sports noted post-Rockets win: “Russell’s becoming an afterthought.” (Word count so far: 1,812)

Locker Room Whispers and Cultural Clash: The Intangibles That Doom Him

Stats tell part of the story, but the real killer is fit—or lack thereof. Dallas’ culture, forged in the Dirk Nowitzki era and refined by Kidd, prizes grit, versatility, and selflessness. Russell? He’s the antithesis: A talented individualist whose “lackadaisical effort” has alienated the room, per multiple reports.

Mathur’s Dallas Hoops Journal scoop on November 20 was explosive: Teammates, including Davis (who knows DLo’s warts from L.A.), griped about practice habits—”half-speed drills, joking during film”—and defensive apathy. One source: “He’s not buying in. We’re fighting for our season, and he’s coasting.” X (formerly Twitter) erupted, with @TheDunkCentral’s post garnering 7,000+ likes: “D’Angelo Russell has rubbed several teammates the wrong way.”

This isn’t new for Russell. His 2019 All-Star breakout in Brooklyn was electric (21.1 PPG), but trades followed due to similar issues—immature antics in L.A., iso-ball in Minnesota. In Dallas, it manifests in subtle ways: Skipping optional shoots, deferring too much offensively then forcing shots when hot. Flagg, the locker room’s rising alpha, reportedly pulled him aside after a November practice, urging better D—advice that fell flat.

Kidd, no stranger to guard drama (hello, Dončić), has been diplomatic but telling. Post-November 25 Knicks loss: “DLo’s got the tools, but it’s about the full 48 minutes.” Translation: Shape up or ship out. With Irving’s return projected for January, Russell’s window was always narrow. Now, amid a 9-16 malaise and Harrison’s firing, the front office views him as dead weight—a $5.7 million expiring contract that’s easy to move but won’t fetch much.

X buzz amplifies this. @CourtsideBuzzX’s December 11 post: “Mavs open to trading AD, Klay, Gafford, & DLo. Should your team bite?” Drew 400+ views, with replies skewing negative on Russell: “DLo’s a stat-padder, not a winner.” @MFFL_Nation’s thread on Shams’ report hit 90,000 views, fans pleading: “Dump him for picks.” The consensus? Russell’s vibe doesn’t mesh with Flagg’s hunger or Davis’ intensity. (Word count so far: 2,156)

Trade Winds Blowing: Potential Landing Spots and What Dallas Gets

If the rumors are true—and Shams doesn’t miss—the trade machine is humming for Russell. His no-trade clause kicks in December 15, but suitors are lining up for a cheap upgrade. Fadeaway World’s November 20 piece outlined four spots:

1. Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Trent Jr. and Andre Jackson Jr. to Dallas. With Giannis sidelined (groin), DLo’s playmaking fills the void. Bucks are 8-7; Russell could stabilize the bench.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr. Memphis (4-11) needs a backup PG. Russell’s scoring punch aids Ja Morant’s load management.
3. Other Buzz: Athlon Sports’ blockbuster mock (December 9) pairs him with Davis to the Clippers for John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanović, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, and picks—a $240M salary dump that rebuilds Dallas’ depth. Yardbarker notes Pistons, Hawks, and Raptors circling, but for Russell alone? Expect second-rounders or salary filler.

Dallas’ return? Modest. His $5.7M salary is movable, but low trade value (per The Smoking Cuban: “Not much beyond a couple seconds”) means picks or young wings like Jackson. The goal: Clear space for Irving’s return and Flagg’s ascension. As @CulturePlaybook tweeted December 9: “Complete Mavs rebuild? AD, Klay, Gafford, DLo on the block.” (Word count so far: 2,378)

The Bigger Picture: Lessons for Dallas and Russell’s Next Chapter

The Russell saga underscores Dallas’ identity crisis. From Dončić’s heliocentric brilliance to Flagg’s two-way promise, the Mavs crave balance—something DLo couldn’t provide. Trading him signals commitment to the kids: Nembhard (two-way gem), Williams (spark plug), and Flagg (franchise savior). With Davis potentially next (suitors like Detroit eyeing his $54.1M deal), this could be a full reset.

For Russell, it’s chapter six: A bounce-back in Milwaukee? A sixth-man role in Memphis? At 29, his 17.1 career PPG screams untapped potential, but the nomad life wears thin. As Wikipedia notes, he’s a “maestro enigma”—talented, but teams tire of the trade requests.

In the end, the Mavericks can’t wait because waiting means stagnation. If Shams’ intel pans out, expect DLo on the move by deadline. Dallas moves forward, lighter and leaner. Russell? Onto the next saga. For MFFL, it’s bittersweet: Another chapter closed in a franchise forever chasing rings.