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 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. But right now stop for this, reach down and grab a couple of plump tomatoes. It's time for sport to catch up.
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 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.
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 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, 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 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 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 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 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, Jason Kidd chose to just not play Spencer Dinwoodie in a quote unquote playoff game.
And I would say that.
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 forty year old Chris Paul. I don't think Chris Paul wanted to come here.
Okay.
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 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 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 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 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 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