Mavericks Dump Overrated D'Angelo Russell in Anthony Davis Trade

Dallas sheds Russell's contract and gets out of a mistake signing, while Washington is now stuck with the struggling guard.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 11:23am

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The Dallas Mavericks' trade of Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards also included dumping the contract of point guard D'Angelo Russell, who had struggled mightily during his brief tenure in Dallas. Russell, once considered a rising star, has become one of the NBA's most overrated players according to recent rankings, and the Mavericks were eager to move on from the failed signing.

Why it matters

The Mavericks signed Russell last summer to be their starting point guard, but he quickly fell out of the rotation due to poor play on both ends of the floor. Paying over $5 million annually for an inactive player was a mistake the team was eager to correct, and the Anthony Davis trade provided an opportunity to shed Russell's contract and regain financial flexibility.

The details

In 26 games with the Mavericks, Russell averaged just 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game, well below his career averages. Head coach Jason Kidd quickly lost faith in Russell and relegated him to the bench, with Russell becoming a healthy scratch by the end of his time in Dallas. The Mavericks were able to include Russell's contract in the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Wizards, freeing them from the mistake signing.

  • The Mavericks signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year, $11.7 million contract in July 2025.
  • Russell played just 26 games for the Mavericks before being traded in February 2026.

The players

D'Angelo Russell

A point guard who was once considered a rising star in the NBA, but has now been labeled as one of the league's most overrated players.

Jason Kidd

The head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, who quickly lost faith in Russell and removed him from the rotation.

Anthony Davis

The veteran big man who was traded from the Mavericks to the Washington Wizards in the deal that also included D'Angelo Russell.

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What they’re saying

“D'Angelo Russell has quietly become one of the most overrated players in the NBA.”

— Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Wizards are now stuck with D'Angelo Russell's contract, and may look to buy him out if he continues to struggle.

The takeaway

The Mavericks were able to shed a mistake signing in D'Angelo Russell as part of the Anthony Davis trade, regaining financial flexibility and avoiding the burden of paying an inactive player. This move highlights the team's ability to course-correct and avoid being saddled with an overrated player on an unfavorable contract.