It’s no secret that, at this point in his career, D’Angelo Russell has become a major negative asset, no matter the team or the contract he is on. This is something that the Dallas Mavericks fan base learned quickly, and something that Washington Wizards fans may not have expected when they landed Russell in the Anthony Davis trade.

At this point in his career, Russell has quietly become a major distraction on and off the floor and has struggled for multiple seasons. There’s no doubt that Russell has the talent to be a capable guard on any team in the NBA; it’s just a question of whether he will apply himself. Now in Washington, Russell hasn’t even reported to the Wizards’ practice facility and could likely get bought out.

This could be a mutual agreement from both sides, but the fact that he isn’t even practicing with Washington is a red flag.

D’Angelo Russell spiral was predictable for Wizards fans

At the beginning of this season, Russell was entering a critical year in his career, as it was the first time he was officially on the ropes. After a lackluster last two years with the Los Angeles Lakers and an even worse last half of the year with the Brooklyn Nets, Russell needed to prove he could once again be taken seriously in the NBA.

Signing with the Mavericks on a two-year deal made perfect sense at the time, as Dallas was searching for a guard who could carry the weight of the offense while Kyrie Irving got healthy. Almost instantly, Russell and Jason Kidd saw opposing viewpoints, and his role was ultimately diminished to warming up the bench and cheering on his teammates.

After being traded to the Wizards, it finally seemed like Russell might be in a place where he felt wanted, but over a week removed from his Dallas departure, Russell hasn’t joined his new team. It’s unclear what the Wizards might do with Russell’s remaining contract, but the likelihood of him being in Washington long-term seems highly unlikely.

Not only could this be the worst thing possible for the 10-year veteran guard, but outside of a few teams that might need guard help, there isn’t a spot in the league for a player like Russell.

On the season, Russell has been averaging career-low numbers with 10.2 points per game and four assists per outing on an abysmal 40 percent shooting from the field. To make matters even worse, Russell is just days away from turning 30, and all indications are pointing to his athleticism and usage rate only dropping from here.

There’s still an outside chance that Russell can offer enough value for a young roster just trying to sell tickets, but the likelihood of him showing out in a Wizards uniform feels low. Russell has the name value to be a must-watch player despite the past few seasons of bad play, but he must make the switch now if he wants any chance at redemption in the NBA.

Not reporting to Washington is an automatic bad look for any team wanting guard help, even if he does reach a buyout agreement. Washington is a team that is clearly looking forward to the future, so it was already an outside chance that Russell would be in a Wizards uniform next season, but whatever team does decide to take a swing on Russell better be prepared for the baggage he will drag along with him.