The Memphis Grizzlies are anticipated to maneuver on from veteran guard D’Angelo Russell lower than three weeks after buying him, in line with Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports activities. Iko reported Wednesday that Memphis and Russell are anticipated to work towards a separation this offseason, both by way of a contract buyout or a commerce.
Russell arrived in Memphis on July 8 as part of a six-team, 11-player trade, however his stick with the franchise now seems prone to be transient. The transfer aligns with the Grizzlies’ ongoing rebuild after an offseason that noticed the group fully reshape its roster round youth, draft belongings, and monetary flexibility.
The Grizzlies completed the 2025-26 season with a 25-57 report, the third-worst mark within the Western Convention, earlier than embarking on one of many league’s most aggressive rebuilds. Memphis traded away franchise cornerstones Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane over the previous 12 months, changing them with a big assortment of future draft picks, younger prospects, and expiring veteran contracts.
Russell’s contract seems to suit that technique. Slightly than viewing the 29-year-old as a part of its long-term plans, Memphis is reportedly exploring avenues to take away his wage from the roster whereas opening further alternatives for its youthful guards.
The previous All-Star has skilled a turbulent stretch over the previous two seasons. Russell signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks on July 6, 2025, however performed simply 26 video games there in the course of the 2025-26 marketing campaign. He averaged 10.2 factors, 4.0 assists, and a couple of.3 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per sport whereas capturing 40.5% from the sphere and 29.5% from three-point vary.
Dallas dealt Russell to the Washington Wizards on the February 2026 commerce deadline within the Anthony Davis trade. Nevertheless, he by no means suited up for Washington, remaining away from the workforce whereas either side anticipated a buyout that in the end by no means materialized earlier than he was included within the blockbuster multi-team commerce to Memphis this month.
Russell owns an completed NBA résumé regardless of the current uncertainty surrounding his profession. The No. 2 total choose within the 2015 NBA Draft has appeared in 655 regular-season video games throughout stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards earlier than his commerce to Memphis. He holds profession averages of 17.0 factors, 5.6 assists, and three.3 rebounds whereas capturing 42.7% from the sphere and 36.3% from past the arc.
His greatest season got here in 2018-19 with Brooklyn, when he averaged 21.1 factors and seven.0 assists throughout 81 video games, incomes the lone All-Star choice of his profession and serving to lead the Nets to the playoffs.
