Grizzlies, D’Angelo Russell Working Toward Buyout or Trade
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The Memphis Grizzlies and veteran guard D’Angelo Russell plan to pursue either a buyout agreement or a trade this offseason, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko.
Russell’s timeline no longer matches Memphis’ rebuilding strategy, and both sides reportedly agree that a move to a playoff contender would be best. The 30-year-old landed with the Grizzlies earlier this month as part of a six-team deal.
The July trade sent Russell to Memphis primarily for salary-matching purposes. In that transaction, the Grizzlies added former Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, former Mavericks guard AJ Johnson, a protected first-round pick, three second-rounders, and a pick swap, while shipping Santi Aldama to Dallas and three draft picks to Detroit.
After a difficult 2025-26 campaign, Russell became the first NBA player this offseason to exercise his player option. He is owed $5,969,250 for the 2026-27 season, making a buyout the simplest path if Memphis cannot locate another trade partner.
Russell, a former All-Star with multiple 20-point seasons earlier in his career, has seen his scoring dip in recent years and has never been known for his defense. He averaged 12.9 points on .367/.297/.826 shooting with Brooklyn during the latter half of 2024-25, then signed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Dallas last summer.
Dallas initially expected Russell to hold the starting point-guard spot while Kyrie Irving recovered from a torn ACL, but he made only three starts in 26 appearances, posting 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game on .405/.295/.717 shooting. The Mavericks dealt him to Washington before February’s deadline in a blockbuster that also sent Anthony Davis to the Wizards. Russell was not required to report to Washington and sat out the remainder of the season.
Memphis now faces the decision of negotiating a buyout or finding another team willing to absorb Russell’s expiring contract.
Source: Hoops Rumors
