The Washington Wizards found themselves as one of the biggest winners from the NBA trade deadline.
Washington made a flurry of bold moves with the blockbuster trades to form a superstar duo of Trae Young and Anthony Davis; two players that at this time last year would have seemed like a pipe dream for fans if you told them the Wizards would have added them to their young core.
Young, a four-time All-Star, listed Washington as a preferred landing spot when it was revealed a trade out of Atlanta was the most likely outcome after the relationship appeared fractured.
As for Davis, the Wizards' acquisition of the future Hall of Famer certainly came out of the blue surprising not only NBA insiders, but a fanbase who never thought they would have the opportunity to see the versatile big man suit up in the DMV repping hometown threads.
When Washington landed Young from the Hawks, the Wizards brought in the guard on his own as part of a 2 for 1 trade.
However, the addition of Davis offered plenty of new faces as both Washington and the Dallas Mavericks' exchanged major packages to facilitate the blockbuster deadline deal.
Washington's already made their intentions clear with one of their newest additions in Dante Exum finding himself as a free agent after being waived by the Wizards over the weekend.
Now, yet another former Maverick who joined Davis in the move could be on the outside looking in when it's all said and done.
D'Angelo Russell could be a buyout candidate for Wizards
According to Wizards' general manager Will Dawkins, newly acquired guard D'Angelo Russell has not reported to Washington as the two sides continue to evaluate what the best outcome would be in the near future.
"We’ll try to figure out what’s best for him and for the team,” Dawkins said after reports surfaced that the former No. 2 overall pick has yet to join the team.
At 29, it doesn't come as a major surprise to see Russell being considered as a buyout candidate.
The Ohio State product is likely seeking the opportunity to contend for a championship and while he was acquired as part of the move to land Davis, it's evident that his inclusion was solely due to salary matching purposes.
Russell being bought out would open yet another roster spot for the Wizards as the moves continue to come ahead of the NBA All-Star Break.