Mavericks are learning the brutal D'Angelo Russell lesson Lakers have learned twice

Through one month in the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks and D'Angelo Russell have been through a rollercoaster of emotions together, and we aren't even halfway into the season. It may have been only one month, but it's already clear that the Mavericks have learned a lesson that the Los Angeles Lakers have learned in two different stints when it comes to the hot and cold play style of Russell.

When the Lakers selected Russell with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the former Ohio State Buckeye instantly became one of the most intriguing offensive figures in recent memory. While he has always been a shoot-first and ask questions later type of player, he learned the hard way that inefficient play won't get you far after being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in just his third season in the league.

There's no doubt that Russell would have found success in multiple other stints, including his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, after being traded back to the Los Angeles Lakers and helping the team make a Western Conference Finals appearance as a seven seed, his career has not been the same. From shot-chucking to poor decision-making and a lack of effort on the defensive end, the Lakers were forced to trade Russell back to the Nets. Within a matter of months, he would sign a two-year prove-it deal with the Mavericks in an attempt to revitalize his NBA career.

Mavericks had all the warnings that Russell's stint would go poorly

It's only been 20 games in the regular season, and it's already clear that the Mavericks have had enough of Russell. Against the Miami Heat, Russell would see an ineffective 10 minutes on the floor where he would lose his role in Jason Kidd's rotation by the second half, and against his former team in the Lakers, Russell wouldn't even see a single second on the floor.

In the past, the Mavericks weren't afraid to throw the 10-year vet out onto the floor in an attempt to get some energy on the offensive end, but over the last few games, Russell's offense has not only looked awful, but his defensive effort has clearly taken a hit with his lost minutes. To make matters worse for Russell's case, rookie two-way standout Ryan Nembhard has begun to break out as a potential star in Dallas, and after getting his first starting nod of the season against the Lakers, Nembhard has clearly run away with Russell's minutes.

It may have taken longer for some fans to realize, but Russell's status in the NBA has hit a complete rock bottom. It would not only take him swallowing his pride and buying into what the Mavericks are trying to build as they are aiming for the future, but Russell's defensive antics need to be figured out before he can even step foot on the floor again.

This was unfortunately a reality that the Mavericks should have known was a possibility when they signed Russell in the opening hours of free agency, but with Kyrie Irving still sidelined, their options were thin at the guard spot. The writing was on the wall from his previous stint with the Lakers, which only lasted a season and a half, but the Mavericks are still figuring out a valuable Russell lesson that should have been a huge red flag from the jump.