July 6 is a special date in Dallas—officially known as Luka Doncic Day since a 2021 resolution passed by the Dallas County Commissioners Court. But this year, for the first time since its creation, Doncic won’t be in the city to celebrate. While Doncic now dons purple and gold with the Lakers, his absence still stings for Mavericks fans who once saw him as the franchise’s forever face.
Adding to the emotion in Dallas is the team’s latest offseason move: signing D’Angelo Russell to a two-year, $13 million deal. While the signing aims to plug the backcourt hole left by Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury, it comes with baggage. Russell’s name has long been tied to locker room drama, most notably the Nick Young saga during his Lakers tenure. That history makes the Mavericks’ bet on him a little more risky.
Still, from a basketball standpoint, it’s a calculated move. With Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, and Daniel Gafford holding down the paint, Russell can focus on scoring and distributing—his biggest strengths. Dallas fans may be mourning Luka’s absence, but they’ll be watching closely to see if DLo can write a new chapter in ‘Big D’.
(This is a building story…)
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