Yogi Ferrell is the latest free agent to spurn the Mavericks
By Daniel Stave
The Mavericks have been, famously, burned by a free agent changing their mind after agreeing to a deal with them. Yogi Ferrell just did it again.
Days after agreeing to return to the Dallas Mavericks, guard Yogi Ferrell decided to re-enter free agency. Ferrell then reached a deal with the Sacramento Kings, spurning the Mavericks, according to Yahoo’s Sham Charania.
Ferrell was a restricted free agent entering the offseason. Last week, the Mavs withdrew their qualifying offer to Ferrell, making him an unrestricted free agent with the expectation he would still return to Dallas. Undersized at 6-foot, Ferrell had reportedly been promised a rotation spot off the bench.
Today’s news that Ferrell will be joining the Kings was unexpected. Ferrell, however, is expected to make $6.2 million over two years with Sacramento, whereas the deal with Dallas was projected to be for $5.3 million.
Ferrell found a home in Dallas after going undrafted out of the University of Indiana in 2016. After playing 10 games with the Nets, he signed with Dallas in January 2017 and started 29 of the 36 games he played for the Mavs that season. As a second-year player in 2017-18, Ferrell played all 82 games, starting 21, and averaged 10.2 points and 2.5 assists.
The Mavericks don’t have many minutes available in the backcourt. They traded up in the draft to select Luka Doncic with the No. 3 overall pick. Doncic is expected to start alongside Dennis Smith Jr. in the backcourt. Smith Jr. was named to the 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie second team after averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists in 69 games.
The team also has Wesley Matthews who will likely start on the wing and J.J. Barea who has been a valuable playmaker off the bench for several years.
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In Sacramento, Ferrell will compete with Frank Mason as the primary backup to point guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings are crowded at shooting guard, as Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic already share time at the spot, and the team re-acquired Ben McLemore from Memphis earlier this week.
The 76ers have also suffered from a player changing their mind. Earlier this month, they agreed to a deal with former Minnesota forward Nemaja Bjelica. Bjelica then backed out of the deal, saying he wanted to play in Europe. However, the latest report is that Bjelica is close to a deal with Sacramento.