Mavericks' Chris Paul free agency whiff is the quiet blessing they needed most

On Monday morning, the Chris Paul free agency saga finally ended as he signed a one-year deal with the LA Clippers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Dallas Mavericks were among teams interested in Paul before he ultimately signed with the Clippers, but it was always clear that he wanted to be closer to Los Angeles to finish his career near his family, making the shot of him joining the Mavericks a long shot.

While Paul may have been a better option than D'Angelo Russell for the Mavericks this season, their free agency pursuit of him ultimately failing isn't the worst thing in the world since all signs are pointing to him retiring after this season. It also can't go unnoticed that Paul is already 40 years old, and even though he played in all 82 games last season for the San Antonio Spurs, one injury could end up ending his career and leaving Dallas out to dry.

The Mavericks don't need any more bad injury luck, and fans could find themselves being much more excited about Russell than they would have been if Paul had remained in the Lone Star State and signed with Dallas for his probable farewell season.

Chris Paul to Dallas was never more than a one-year rental idea

The Mavericks ended up signing Russell to a two-year deal on the first night of free agency, and even if Paul may have been the stronger replacement to hold down the fort until Kyrie Irving returns at some point in 2026, Paul would have only been a temporary one-year rental and Russell could end up playing in Dallas for the long haul depending on how next season goes.

Russell seems excited to be a Maverick, and with him being on a two-year deal, he could opt into his player option after his first season in Dallas and morph into the backup point guard for the 2026-27 season to form an incredible dynamic with Irving moving forward.

The Mavericks need to prioritize continuity as the Cooper Flagg era begins, and that would have been a non-factor if they had signed Paul. He likely would have just been the starter until Irving returns, transition to the leader of the bench unit, and then retire after the season ends. With the uncertainty surrounding Irving's return from injury, the 2026-27 season may be their real push to go win a title with their Irving-Davis duo, and Russell could end up being a key contributor on the squad for both years while Paul would have only been running the show for one.

This isn't to say that the Mavericks won't have the chance to contend next season, but it seems much more likely that they can be true contenders in the following season. Three of Dallas' starters, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Irving, have all had surgery over the past few months, and while Davis and Lively II are expected to be ready to go before the season begins, the Mavs' injury curse from last season has carried into the summer.

It's going to be an uphill battle for the Mavericks to be in the same tier as teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets next season, and with the franchise leader, Irving, set to miss over half of the season, it is going to have to be a pedal-to-the-metal push at the end of the season for Dallas to make their second NBA Finals appearance in the last three years.

A debate can be made regarding who would have been a better option for next season between Paul and Russell, but with Russell being 11 years younger than Paul and hungry to prove something rather than eyeing retirement, the Mavericks may have quietly nabbed the right option.