June 30, 2025 • 6 mins
Why would the Mavericks choose D’Angelo Russell over a legend like Chris Paul?” That’s the question that kicks off a fiery 5pm Money Hour on The Ben and Skin Show, where Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray dive deep into the Mavericks’ latest offseason moves—and they don’t hold back.In this episode, the crew breaks down the Mavericks’ expected signing of D’Angelo Russell to a 2-year, $12 million deal. Is it a smart move or a desperate patch until Kyrie returns? Skin offers sharp insight into Russell’s value, noting, “He’s making a third of what he made last year. That tells you what the market thinks of him.”The conversation takes a turn into the philosophical as they ponder Chris Paul’s legacy and why he might prefer hanging with his kids in L.A. over chasing a ring in Dallas. “He’s gonna go down with Barkley and Stockton—greats who never got a ring,” Skin reflects.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is brought to you by Andrews American Pizza Kitchen
in Plano, Texas. Only one location in the world, and
it happens to be in Plano at Preston and Plano Parkway,
and it is exquisite. If you're one of those foodies
who likes to go around and try the best of
the best of the best, you need to know about Andrews.
Readers of the Dallas Morry News said it was the
best pizza in all of DFW that speaks volumes. If
(00:21):
that's not enough to get you out there to try Andrews,
what are you waiting for. They've mastered five different types
of pizza. If you like Detroit, New York, whatever it is,
they got it. They've mastered it. That's why again. Readers
of the Dallas Morry News said they are the best
awesome craft beer selection they got Pasta Salagy named it.
It's a phenomenal restaurant Andrews American Pizza Kitchen in Plano, Texas.
(00:41):
But right now stop for this, reach down and grab
a couple of plump tomatoes. It's time for sport to
catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Catcher catchup, puns, sports, sports catchup, catchup pauns all. All right,
five o'clock hour is the money hour, and that is
why NBA free agency is happening. It's not as chaotic
as it's been in the past, they think, because not
a ton of teams have like boatloads of cap space
(01:14):
and things like that. But here is what we know
in terms of the Mavericks. The Mavericks are highly expected
to be signing D'Angelo Russell today. I don't know when
it will be official, actually, because it's just kind of
the period that's opening up. Two at twelve I've seen
thrown around. Does that sound right to you, Jeff skin Wade.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, that's the right because the first year salary will
be five point seven million dollars on something that they
call the mid level exception for tax teams. So that's
we know that they can't sign them for more than that.
That's what that number is going to be, and then
they just go from there. It'll be a two year
deal and so there's a little bit of a kick
(01:50):
the next year and that's what gets you to the
two years at twelve. I don't mind it. It's not
a huge amount of money and it's a guy who
definitely can score he can run the offense. It's you know,
to a degree in tel Kapak and then settle into
kind of just being a role player when Kai gets back.
But you know, I would have preferred maybe somebody who was,
(02:11):
I don't know, better defensively or what have you. But
there were times where that offense absolutely bogged without Kyrie. Yeah,
and so having a guy who can straight fill it
up if needed, I can see why they leaned that way. Yeah,
And you know, last year it was kind of a
washout for Russell. You know, he was traded to a
(02:33):
bad team that was tanking, so you don't want to
put you know, he's a Laker, and then got traded
and so you look at what he did in Boston.
All right, So he shot twenty nine percent from three.
He's not a twenty nine percent three point shooter. He's
a career thirty six percent three point shooter. And when
he's on the floor with other really good guy Like
(02:55):
he's a good offensive player, I don't find him to
be a particular efficient offensive player. I also think that
calling him an adequate defender would be more than generous.
But not everybody on your team is going to have
all the skills that you need and at the price
that they're getting him for. You know, last year, let
(03:17):
me look it up. I bet he made twenty million
dollars last year. Has anybody seen what his last contract was,
I've got it right here. Yeah, last year he made
eighteen point six million dollars. So he's making a third
of what he was making. So a couple things. One
that tells you what the market is for him at
this point in his life. He's twenty nine or thirty
(03:38):
or however old he is. And two, you know you're
talking about adding a complimentary player. It's just the Mavericks
are in such a unique situation that they you know,
they they need someone until Kyrie gets back. The one
thing that I would say, we'll see how it goes
and we'll see how he adapts. But remember, I mean,
(04:04):
Jason Kidd chose to just not play Spencer Dinwoodie in
a quote unquote playoff game.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And I would say that.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
They're very similar players in terms of how they approach basketball.
I would say D'Angelo Russell's a more consistent offensive player
than Dinwoody. Dinwoody, He's a bigger player and can do
more different things than Russell can do. But I guess
my point is is that if you're not liking what
if kid's not liking what's happening, he gonna sit your ass.
Why do you think they went this direction instead of
(04:34):
forty year old Chris Paul. I don't think Chris Paul
wanted to come here.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Everything I've read about Chris Paul is that so his
kids are teenagers, they live in LA I bet he's
gonna end up being a Phoenix Sun or a Los
Angeles Clipper, and so all things being equal, I mean, dude,
he knows there ain't no guarantees. He got to the
finals and they had it won before they GotY honest.
I mean, he's gonna go down in the category of
(05:00):
Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Charles Barkley. Is one of
the greatest all time players to never get a ring,
and it happens Patrick Ewing, happens to those guys. But
I think he probably just looked as man, there's no
guarantees of anything. I'd rather just go hang out with
my kids. Do you see them doing anything trade wise
or could you see them? Is it likely there's a
(05:20):
rumor going around that they're gonna move Omas to clear
up the space and the roster spot to keep Dante
XHM and I like that Dante. I would have zero
problems with Dante exam starting. The problem is that he
plays thirty games a year because he's hurt, right. I
heard there was talking of him just going and playing
full time in Europe. Yeah, because I think he could
have made more money there, and so I had written
(05:42):
him off. But if Stein's reporting it, it's a well
placed source. And then I also think, you know, let's
see how things shake out. But they have you know what,
if you start looking at quote unquote aggregating contracts, you
know the name that everybody throws up there is Kaylee Martin.
Caleb Martin's got three years left on his deal. That's
(06:03):
a difficult player to move. But they can aggregate some contracts.
But the point they're at once they sign d'angela Russell,
they have to take back way less money than they
send out. So it just becomes increasingly difficult. But I
think they look at it as Cooper Flag will be
a playmaker, D'angela Russell will be a playmaker. Maybe we
can keep an xum type until Kyrie Irving gets back
(06:25):
all right, coming up in just over three minutes in
the weekly weekday Update. If you're a millennial, stay tuned
for this. If you like making fun of millennials, or
you just like track and all that, What is a
millennial smoke break? Just three minutes away from answering that
question right here at the Ben and Skin show before
It is brought to you by Andrews American Pizza Kitchen
in Plano, Texas. Only one location in the world, and
it happens to be in Plano at Preston and Plano Parkway,
and it is exquisite. If you're one of those foodies
who likes to go around and try the best of
the best of the best, you need to know about Andrews.
Readers of the Dallas Morry News said it was the
best pizza in all of DFW that speaks volumes. If
(00:21):
that's not enough to get you out there to try Andrews,
what are you waiting for. They've mastered five different types
of pizza. If you like Detroit, New York, whatever it is,
they got it. They've mastered it. That's why again. Readers
of the Dallas Morry News said they are the best
awesome craft beer selection they got Pasta Salagy named it.
It's a phenomenal restaurant Andrews American Pizza Kitchen in Plano, Texas.
(00:41):
But right now stop for this, reach down and grab
a couple of plump tomatoes. It's time for sport to
catch up.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Catcher catchup, puns, sports, sports catchup, catchup pauns all. All right,
five o'clock hour is the money hour, and that is
why NBA free agency is happening. It's not as chaotic
as it's been in the past, they think, because not
a ton of teams have like boatloads of cap space
(01:14):
and things like that. But here is what we know
in terms of the Mavericks. The Mavericks are highly expected
to be signing D'Angelo Russell today. I don't know when
it will be official, actually, because it's just kind of
the period that's opening up. Two at twelve I've seen
thrown around. Does that sound right to you, Jeff skin Wade.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, that's the right because the first year salary will
be five point seven million dollars on something that they
call the mid level exception for tax teams. So that's
we know that they can't sign them for more than that.
That's what that number is going to be, and then
they just go from there. It'll be a two year
deal and so there's a little bit of a kick
(01:50):
the next year and that's what gets you to the
two years at twelve. I don't mind it. It's not
a huge amount of money and it's a guy who
definitely can score he can run the offense. It's you know,
to a degree in tel Kapak and then settle into
kind of just being a role player when Kai gets back.
But you know, I would have preferred maybe somebody who was,
(02:11):
I don't know, better defensively or what have you. But
there were times where that offense absolutely bogged without Kyrie. Yeah,
and so having a guy who can straight fill it
up if needed, I can see why they leaned that way. Yeah,
And you know, last year it was kind of a
washout for Russell. You know, he was traded to a
(02:33):
bad team that was tanking, so you don't want to
put you know, he's a Laker, and then got traded
and so you look at what he did in Boston.
All right, So he shot twenty nine percent from three.
He's not a twenty nine percent three point shooter. He's
a career thirty six percent three point shooter. And when
he's on the floor with other really good guy Like
(02:55):
he's a good offensive player, I don't find him to
be a particular efficient offensive player. I also think that
calling him an adequate defender would be more than generous.
But not everybody on your team is going to have
all the skills that you need and at the price
that they're getting him for. You know, last year, let
(03:17):
me look it up. I bet he made twenty million
dollars last year. Has anybody seen what his last contract was,
I've got it right here. Yeah, last year he made
eighteen point six million dollars. So he's making a third
of what he was making. So a couple things. One
that tells you what the market is for him at
this point in his life. He's twenty nine or thirty
(03:38):
or however old he is. And two, you know you're
talking about adding a complimentary player. It's just the Mavericks
are in such a unique situation that they you know,
they they need someone until Kyrie gets back. The one
thing that I would say, we'll see how it goes
and we'll see how he adapts. But remember, I mean,
(04:04):
Jason Kidd chose to just not play Spencer Dinwoodie in
a quote unquote playoff game.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
And I would say that.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
They're very similar players in terms of how they approach basketball.
I would say D'Angelo Russell's a more consistent offensive player
than Dinwoody. Dinwoody, He's a bigger player and can do
more different things than Russell can do. But I guess
my point is is that if you're not liking what
if kid's not liking what's happening, he gonna sit your ass.
Why do you think they went this direction instead of
(04:34):
forty year old Chris Paul. I don't think Chris Paul
wanted to come here.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Everything I've read about Chris Paul is that so his
kids are teenagers, they live in LA I bet he's
gonna end up being a Phoenix Sun or a Los
Angeles Clipper, and so all things being equal, I mean, dude,
he knows there ain't no guarantees. He got to the
finals and they had it won before they GotY honest.
I mean, he's gonna go down in the category of
(05:00):
Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Charles Barkley. Is one of
the greatest all time players to never get a ring,
and it happens Patrick Ewing, happens to those guys. But
I think he probably just looked as man, there's no
guarantees of anything. I'd rather just go hang out with
my kids. Do you see them doing anything trade wise
or could you see them? Is it likely there's a
(05:20):
rumor going around that they're gonna move Omas to clear
up the space and the roster spot to keep Dante
XHM and I like that Dante. I would have zero
problems with Dante exam starting. The problem is that he
plays thirty games a year because he's hurt, right. I
heard there was talking of him just going and playing
full time in Europe. Yeah, because I think he could
have made more money there, and so I had written
(05:42):
him off. But if Stein's reporting it, it's a well
placed source. And then I also think, you know, let's
see how things shake out. But they have you know what,
if you start looking at quote unquote aggregating contracts, you
know the name that everybody throws up there is Kaylee Martin.
Caleb Martin's got three years left on his deal. That's
(06:03):
a difficult player to move. But they can aggregate some contracts.
But the point they're at once they sign d'angela Russell,
they have to take back way less money than they
send out. So it just becomes increasingly difficult. But I
think they look at it as Cooper Flag will be
a playmaker, D'angela Russell will be a playmaker. Maybe we
can keep an xum type until Kyrie Irving gets back
(06:25):
all right, coming up in just over three minutes in
the weekly weekday Update. If you're a millennial, stay tuned
for this. If you like making fun of millennials, or
you just like track and all that, What is a
millennial smoke break? Just three minutes away from answering that
question right here at the Ben and Skin show before
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