The Dallas Mavericks may have made their free agency move with D’Angelo Russell, but it’s clear the real motivation behind it has everything to do with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Dallas looks to be building a roadmap tailored for Flagg’s early NBA success, and Russell is a big part of that equation.
Shortly after drafting Flagg first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Mavs signed Russell to a two-year deal. Flagg, already drawing attention for his NBA-ready physique, skillset, and mentality, is expected to be a major contributor from day one. Dallas reportedly has a strategy to develop Flagg as both a playmaker and shot creator, and that starts with how he’ll mesh with Russell in the starting five.
The Mavericks were always on the lookout for a guard who could slot in with or without Kyrie Irving, especially since Irving is expected to miss a good portion of the upcoming season. But their interest in a combo guard went beyond just filling time during Kyrie’s absence. They needed someone who could shift off the ball and give Flagg the chance to take on more ball-handling duties—a plan that goes far beyond a soundbite from Jason Kidd.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, this vision is already well underway.
Mavericks Made Russell Signing with Flagg in Mind
While attending the NBA Summer League, Smith spoke to several league insiders, including a Mavericks coach, who offered some insight into the Russell signing.
“We had to get a guy a who could play in place of Kyrie (Irving) while he’s out,” the coach told Smith. “But that guy also needed to play with Kyrie too. We feel like DLo fits that perfectly. We also like that he can shift off the ball with Cooper (Flagg) handling the playmaking too.”
Talk of Flagg potentially playing as a facilitator started before the draft, when Kidd compared him to Grant Hill. That buzz only intensified during Flagg’s introductory press conference.
In what may have been the largest player welcome event in Mavericks history, media and team members gathered in a packed gym instead of the usual press room. Whataburger meals with No. 32 table markers filled long tables, creating a festive atmosphere for Flagg’s debut.
It was there that Jason Kidd and Mark Cuban openly suggested that fans might see Flagg running the point. Flagg seemed eager for the challenge.
While sitting on stage with Flagg and GM Nico Harrison, Kidd referenced the idea of Flagg playing point guard multiple times. Cuban echoed the same idea during his post-conference media interaction.
“I’d send a text to J-Kidd, point guard, point guard, point guard, let him bring the ball up,” Cuban said.
A few weeks later, Cuban once again backed Flagg’s skills as a ball handler in an interview with The Smoking Cuban, praising the rookie’s performance in Summer League.
“He showed he has handles, no one stole the ball, and every guy out there was trying to take the ball from him,” Cuban said. “I think he really showed up and proved that he can make reads, he can get to his spots, and he can create for other people. He makes the right pass almost every time.”
It’s evident that both the Mavericks’ front office and coaching staff believe in Flagg’s potential as a playmaker. Their plan seems to be giving him opportunities to initiate the offense right out of the gate.
Even if Russell starts as the lead ball handler, Dallas values his ability to play off the ball—allowing Flagg to take the reins. This is a strong indicator of the organization’s confidence in their teenage cornerstone, and giving him these responsibilities early should speed up his development.
Instead of limiting Flagg to an off-ball role, the Mavericks appear fully committed to accelerating his growth as a true creator—and the season hasn’t even started yet.
