D'Angelo Russell boldly called his Mavericks shot long before Dallas signed him

On the opening night of free agency, the Dallas Mavericks signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year deal worth the taxpayer mid-level exception. This was a move that was expected ahead of free agency beginning, as Dallas badly needed a point guard to start in Kyrie Irving's place as he recovers from an ACL tear, and Russell is poised to be an excellent fit in the starting unit for the first few months of the season.

It was clear that Dallas had serious interest in Russell, as they wasted no time signing him when free agency began, but the interest was clearly just as strong on both sides.

In a vlog posted by D'Angelo Russell this month titled "I SIGNED WITH DALLAS" on YouTube, there is a clip of him at a gym before free agency began, and his bold prediction from this clip just happened to come true as soon as he inked his two-year deal with the Mavericks (11:10 mark on embedded video).

D'Angelo Russell spoke his Mavericks contract into existence

The person with the camera asked Russell if he had any predictions ahead of free agency beginning, and he spoke his new contract with the Mavericks into existence.

"Dallas," Russell bluntly replied. "Putting it in the air, bro. If I can get there, it'd be great. Just betting on myself. Dallas is where I'm trying to be."

Russell's prediction obviously came true, as he signed a two-year deal with the Mavericks within a few hours of free agency beginning, and his bold bet on himself could end up paying off majorly. He could have likely signed elsewhere for more money, but his decision to sign a team-friendly deal with the Mavericks gives him the chance to be the starting point guard for a team with NBA Finals aspirations.

This is what gave Dallas an edge over many other teams in free agency, as the Mavs' starting point guard spot was thought to be a coveted spot around the NBA, and it gives Russell the chance to prove that he can still be a high-level starting-caliber guard in this league. Russell has a player option after the first year of his contract in Dallas, and if he can dominate in year one, a bigger contract will be waiting for him in free agency next summer.

This is likely why he agreed to sign with the Mavericks at such a low number, and he'll have plenty to prove in Dallas after struggling last season for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. He needs to have a bounce-back season in Dallas to get back to commanding universal respect around the league once again, and the roster that is around him should help him do all of that and more.

To begin the season, Russell will get to play plenty of minutes alongside Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, and each of those players are going to help amplify his playmaking once again and bring the most out of him. Russell still remains a top-notch playmaker in this league, and with his deadly 3-point shooting, the Mavericks' spacing should improve after a poor ending to last season.

Russell seemed to have always known he was going to be a Maverick, and his bet on himself is going to have a major impact on Dallas' early-season performance.