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D'Angelo Russell: "Nico, what's good? Hey, I can't believe I still got your number. I appreciate you, bro. I'm so excited — you really fit what we're trying to do." Nico Harrison: "Who you telling? I like when you get a chip on your shoulder." D'Angelo Russell: "Man, I like me with a chip on my shoulder. I haven’t seen it in a while. I'm here, and I'm excited, bro." Nico Harrison: "It's good. I got you, I got you. I know Klay's out here in Miami — that's where I'm at. We're probably going to start getting in the gym a little bit." D'Angelo Russell: "Okay. Cool, cool. Yeah, man..."
Shams Charania: Free agent guard Dante Exum has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. Exum considered two other contenders but returns to Dallas to share ball-handling duties to start the season with D'Angelo Russell.
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Mike Curtis: The #Mavs are expected to come to an agreement with former All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract, a person familiar with the process confirmed. Free agency opens at 5 p.m. CT.
Kyrie Irving's acceptance of a three-year, $119 million contract -- taking a pay cut for this season after declining his $43 million player option -- allowed the Mavericks to maintain access to the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The plan for that slot is to sign a lead guard who can start while Irving recovers from his torn left ACL and transition to a key reserve role upon the nine-time All-Star's return. Candidates include D'Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Paul and Tyus Jones, sources said. (The Mavs had interest in Dennis Schroder, but he is expected to command a significantly higher salary.)
The Stein Line has reported on numerous occasions this month that Dallas has been hoping to make a free agent run at Chris Paul but is widely regarded as a strong favorite to come to terms with another former All-Star — Brooklyn's D'Angelo Russell — once free agency officially beings Monday night … essentially because the Mavericks regard Russell as far more attainable. Paul does not appear to be interested in spending another season in Texas with his children, both teenagers, in Southern California.
Free agency doesn't officially start until Monday at 6 PM ET, but league sources say that numerous teams are operating under the belief that the Sacramento Kings have the best chance to sign Dennis Schröder away from the Detroit Pistons, while the Dallas Mavericks are increasingly regarded as the favorites to sign D'Angelo Russell.
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Marc Stein: More on this topic: Dallas is now regarded as a leading suitor for D'Angelo Russell, sources tell @TheSteinLine . The Mavs can make a free agent run at Russell because Kyrie Irving's new deal has a lower Year 1 salary than his $43M player option.
The Mavs are expected to open up the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception by signing Irving to this deal, sources said. Potential targets for that salary slot would have included Dennis Schroder, D'Angelo Russell, Chris Paul and Malcolm Brogdon, sources said.
The price tag for being able to ask D’Lo questions, get selfies and autographs: 2,299 Chinese Yuan or $320. The local mall was all dressed up for Russell...
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