Mavericks can't afford to fall for D'Angelo Russell's obvious fool's gold

The fate of the Dallas Mavericks shifted on May 12 when they learned they would be winning this summer's NBA Draft Lottery and have the ability to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. While Flagg has gotten the bulk of the attention this summer, the Mavericks made another move that may turn out to be just as important as drafting Flagg in this upcoming season.

In the opening hours of free agency, the Mavericks understood they needed a guard who could not only handle the ball while Kyrie Irving remains sidelined, but someone who could be a reliable scorer. With this in mind, the Mavericks inked D'Angelo Russell to a two-year contract worth around $12 million in the hopes that he could turn back the clock and help the Mavericks contend in Flagg's rookie season.

While Russell has shown in the past that he can be trusted in the regular season, whether with the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Los Angeles Lakers, the reality of the situation is that Russell has struggled to elevate his game on the biggest stage: The Playoffs.

Mavericks need a new D'Angelo Russell when the playoffs arrive

To many fans' accounts, Russell has been an amazing player throughout the first few months of the regular season. While the Mavericks signed Russell in the hopes that he could hold the fort down until Irving is cleared to return to the court, the reality of the situation is that even alongside Irving, Russell will play a critical role on this Mavericks squad.

Not only are the Mavericks depleted of ball handlers on their roster, even with Irving, but the Mavericks aim to let Flagg take plenty of reps leading the offense, which will put Russell in a position with little to no room for mistakes. Russell has shown time and again that he can be a reliable rotational player on a nightly basis, but has a tendency to fall apart when it matters most.

Most recently, during the 2024 and 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers had to strip Russell entirely of his role, whether due to defensive concerns or just the inability to mold his game into a playoff machine. Once again in Dallas, the hope is that by the time the playoffs tip off, Irving will be back, but the Mavericks can't hold their breath on an Irving reunion this season, which will force them to rely on Russell for trustworthy playoff minutes.

While it's still a tall ask to assume the Mavericks will be making the playoffs without Irving in the lineup, it won't be a recipe for success if the Mavericks are rolling out a lineup with Russell at the head guard spot in the starting lineup come April.

Russell, in his younger days, has flashed the ability to be a microwave scorer, but the reality of Russell's game is that he has molded into a player who relies way more on getting open jumpers than someone who can dribble and drive with the defense.

While it will be an uphill battle for the Mavericks to avoid the play-in games and make the playoffs, it will likely mean that Flagg is truly the player everyone thinks he can become, which could be Dallas' saving grace. A realistic outlook on this season is for the Mavericks to make the playoffs, but they likely aren't contending with some of the top teams in the Western Conference.

With Russell on the roster, the Mavericks will have an impressive regular season, but all eyes will be on Dallas if they can make a playoff berth.