Russell will not report to the Wizards! A contract buyout might be reached as he aims to join a competitive team.

On February 9th, prior to the NBA trade deadline this year, the Washington Wizards completed a multi-team trade focused on Anthony Davis, acquiring multiple players including former All-Star Russell. Nonetheless, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins stated that Russell will not join the team.

After discussions with Russell and his agent group, both sides are seeking a solution that best benefits their future interests.

For Russell, the 29-year-old veteran has made it clear that he wants to play for a team with genuine championship potential. When he signed with the Mavericks as a free agent this summer, the team was considered a strong contender in the Western Conference.

However, due to ongoing injuries throughout the season, the team's performance fell short of expectations. The Mavericks failed to meet external hopes and thus decided to trade away Anthony Davis and others before the deadline to restructure their roster.

The Wizards have a promising future lineup, but currently, their competitiveness is limited. With a 14-37 record, they stand 14th in the Eastern Conference. Considering that Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and others won’t be playing for the team in the near term, a miraculous comeback to compete for a play-in spot is highly unlikely.

Russell is currently under a two-year contract worth $11.6 million in total: earning over $5 million this season, with a player option valued at $5.9 million for the offseason.

The Wizards have yet to make further roster moves, but Dawkins' recent comments suggest that a contract buyout might be agreed upon, allowing Russell to become a free agent and choose his next destination independently.

This season, Russell has played 26 games for the Mavericks, averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 40%.