Wizards Tell Former All-Star To Stay Home

The Washington Wizards have been extremely active in the NBA landscape this season. Trading for two former All-Stars, Anthony Davis and Trae Young, is one thing, but now, after the trade deadline, they are finalizing their roster. After waiving the 2014 fifth overall pick, Dante Exum, the Wizards have now told former Dallas Maverick D’Angelo Russell not to report to the team.

The one-time NBA All-Star may end up being one of the best players on the buyout market as the season moves towards the postseason race. The Wizards are slowly getting rid of guards, with the position being severely overcrowded. Washington has eight players currently listed at the guard positions, and Russell’s eventual departure will make seven.

Russell’s Decline

Unfortunately, Russell’s decline in play is a major reason for his decline in minutes this season and a cause for his future unemployment. Just two seasons ago, Russell was averaging 18 points on a contending Los Angeles Lakers squad. Flash forward to the present, and he’s averaging career-worsts in multiple categories.

Across his 26 games this season, Russell has averaged 10.2 points, four assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He’s shooting 40.5% from the field and a career-low 29.5% from three. He was supposed to be Kyrie Irving’s replacement, but now he may find himself not playing for the remainder of the season.

Buyout Material

While Russell has definitely suffered in the numbers department, don’t be fooled. He’s a scorer and can fill it up in a hurry. His offensive skillset would be an amazing asset on the bench of a contender. If Washington does decide to buy him out, the market would likely light up.

Russell has shot at least 35% from three in nine of his 11 seasons in the league. He may not be as prolific as he used to be, but the All-Star can still score at an elite level. If there’s a team looking for production off the bench, it’s him. He’s streaky and can get hot for games at a time, but also suffers from the inverse. If he’s cold, it looks like the lights are out in the gym.

However, in a bench role, Russell could dominate. With his scoring, he’s a threat from all three levels of the floor, but with his playmaking, he could be an elite combo guard. He hasn’t averaged under five assists in his career, except for last season. With that, he’s averaged less than two turnovers in the past two seasons. He’s still a very servicable backup, even while in the midst of a bad year.

DLo has proven that when he’s one of the primary scorers, he can be elite. In his first stint in Brooklyn, Russell would make his All-Star appearance. Over the course of the 2018-19 season, Russell averaged 21.1 points per game, seven assists, and nearly four rebounds per game. Or in the 2021-22 campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where Russell would average 19 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.6 rebounds.

The Last Word

A name of Russell’s status will no doubt gain lots of interest in the buyout market. Not only is he serviceable, but he can take over games and dominate with his skillset. Look for contenders with weaker benches or injuries to start picking up the phone and calling the 2015 second overall pick.