Mavericks can't wait to trade D'Angelo Russell if new rumors are true

The Mavericks are the latest victims in the curious case of D’Angelo Russell. The never-ending saga continues. Russell was supposed to bring veteran leadership and stability to the team in Kyrie Irving’s absence, but that hasn’t been the case, and now it seems that the Mavericks can’t wait to get rid of him. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Dallas is gauging the trade market for Russell, and his time in Dallas may end before it even begins.

Russell’s decision-making in close games has been subpar, and his playstyle has not been a good fit in Jason Kidd's system. One of his most frustrating plays of the year came in a tough 133-127 double overtime loss to the LA Clippers in a mid-November game that saw Russell dribble down the shot clock and jack up an ill-advised and off-balance shot instead of passing to an open Max Christie or Naji Marshall on the wing.

It doesn’t help that Russell missed all six of his 3-point attempts in that game either, along with having seven turnovers. This was not a good sign when it comes to Russell being all-in on playing his role to the best of his ability while focusing on winning at the highest level. But it was par for the course for D’Angelo Russell. One part maestro, the other part enigma.

D'Angelo Russell is officially on the trade block

Also, Russell’s apathetic approach to defense runs counter to the very principles the Mavericks have sought to instill in their team culture. He doesn’t seem to be locked in like he needs to be. And as a point guard of the team, that’s a huge issue. Russell’s negative trickle-down effect was also causing added pressure on rookie sensation Cooper Flagg to pick up the slack.

Consequently, the D’Angelo Russell experience has been choppy at best, and Kidd has decided to bench Russell and give the bulk of the point guard duties to the quickly rising Ryan Nembhard and the lightning-quick Brandon Williams.

Nembhard spearheads the attack, and Brandon Williams provides a spark off the bench with his change of pace and lightning-quick speed.  Nemhard’s stellar play has helped the Mavericks win four out of their last five games with impressive wins over the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, and has blended seamlessly with Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg to form a formidable trio. The Mavericks are playing their best basketball of the year, and this could end up having a huge bearing on whether or not Kyrie Irving comes back this season.

These recent events have Russell looking like the odd man out. Especially with concrete trade rumors coming out from the most plugged-in man in basketball after less than two months of Russell playing for the Mavs. The season began about a month and a half ago, and Dallas has already seen enough of their new point guard.

It always seemed like Russell's time in Dallas was going to come to an end before the trade deadline, and it has never seemed like Kidd trusted him. This was clear from the jump, and the move to bring him to Dallas seemed like a Nico Harrison move rather than a signing that Kidd had his hands in.

The Mavericks are no longer in need of his services, and he may have to pick up the pieces of his career elsewhere. To go from lottery pick to an NBA journeyman all before the tender age of 30 is a tough pill to swallow for the mercurial point guard. Russell has already played for five different teams in his NBA career, and it's almost certain that he’s going to be adding to that tally in the near future.

Russell’s arrival in Dallas was met with harsh skepticism by sports analyst Bill Simmons, who compared Russell to a friend you enjoy for a day but get tired of very quickly. He didn’t feel Russell could be a consistent impact player. And sadly, he may have been right. Los Angeles Lakers fans seem to know this all too well. Russell is a borderline all-star talent at his best, but he can have you pulling out your hair in the very next breath.

It will be interesting to see what the Mavericks can fetch on the trade market for Russell. But they will most certainly be looking to bolster their roster now that it has been confirmed that Derek Lively II will undergo season-ending surgery on his troublesome right foot. That makes Russell more expendable now that Nemhard has emerged, and Dallas could be looking to provide some relief for Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. The life of a professional athlete is fragile at best. And D’Angelo Russell is living his own cautionary tale.