D'Angelo Russell's lacking play has been a problem for too long

We know now what we should have known then. The Timberwolves never should have made the big trade.

They took a chance on upgrading their size and productivity at a position of need, which sounded like a good idea but became a disaster.

If you think this is about Rudy Gobert, you haven't been watching closely.

With most of the precincts reporting, it's clear now that former general manager Gersson Rosas blew it when trading Andrew Wiggins and a first-round draft pick for D'Angelo Russell.

D-Lo has gone D-Lower.

Wednesday night against Phoenix, which was lacking star guard Chris Paul, Russell started well, making two of his first three shots, including a three-pointer, and adding two assists, in the first half of the first quarter. Over the next three minutes, he missed one shot, added one assist but did little else as the Suns rallied to build a lead and eased to a 129-117 victory at Target Center.

Russell's final numbers weren't bad. He finished with 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting, six assists, two rebounds and three turnovers. But on one play in the first half, Russell didn't know he was supposed to be on the court. The Suns played 5-on-4 and made a three-pointer. Asked what happened, Wolves coach Chris Finch said, "I have no idea.''

As the Wolves tried to come back early in the fourth, Russell threw a bounce pass into the knees of Gobert, causing a turnover and a Suns fast break.

Entering the game, Russell ranked 211th in the league in Player Efficiency Rating, and 42nd among point guards. There are only 30 NBA teams.

Trading for Russell seemed to make sense at the time because nobody in Minnesota could stand to watch Wiggins play anymore. Trying to build or rebuild a franchise around a former No. 1 pick who didn't always seem competitive felt like a silly approach.

We'll never know how Wiggins would have played had he stayed. What we know is that he became a key contributor to a championship team, the Warriors received a first-rounder, and Russell has bookended two seasons with lousy performances.

He earned a benching in a playoff series against Memphis, a series the Wolves could have won had he played better.

He has played lifeless basketball for much of the early going this fall. Finch's frequent complaints about this team could be aimed at Russell — a lack of physical play on defense and on the boards, a lack of intensity and ball pressure, an unwillingness to hustle back on defense, a lack of ball movement and flow on offense.

Russell is a highly paid, veteran point guard. When a team struggles to get into an offensive flow or play quality team defense, you want your highly paid, veteran point guard to take charge. Or to refund the money that's being wasted on him.

After the game, Russell was the Timberwolf who came to the interview room. On Monday night, he chided reporters for trying to "bait'' players into answers. Wednesday, he offered short answers and said he didn't want to pass judgment on the team, his teammates or himself.

His effort during the interview mirrored his effort on the court.

Asked whether a lack of familiarity with teammates was the problem, Russell said, "A little bit of teammates, a little bit of that, a little bit of something else, a little bit of everything else,'' he said. "Honestly, it's not just that.''

Russell isn't struggling because of a lack of familiarity, or continuity. He's playing the way he's played most of his Wolves tenure.

After Russell looked lost against Memphis, I suggested that the Wolves trade him. They decided that keeping him was better than trying to offload him in a deal that could cost them assets. That's one of those sports decisions that is understandable in the moment — like trading Wiggins — that can nevertheless kill your franchise.

The Wolves' faith in Russell has not been rewarded and should be running out.