The Memphis Grizzlies have waived veteran guard D'Angelo Russell, the team confirmed on September 25, 2026. This roster move is a direct effort to reduce the team's player count ahead of the upcoming NBA season, making Russell an immediate free agent. He can now sign with any team before the 2026-27 campaign tips off.
Memphis faced a significant roster crunch. They carried 19 players on standard contracts into the final Friday of September, needing to get down to 15 for opening night. Waiving Russell now gives him a chance to clear waivers before most teams start training camp next week. The Grizzlies will remain responsible for his fully guaranteed $5.97 million expiring salary. They still have more cuts to make, as they currently hold 17 players on guaranteed deals plus Jaylen Wells on a partially guaranteed contract.
Russell's performance decline made him a likely candidate for this move. The 30-year-old's playing time and production have dropped sharply in recent seasons. After signing a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Dallas in 2025, he was expected to start for an injured Kyrie Irving. Instead, he came off the bench and quickly fell out of the rotation entirely. He played only 26 games for the Mavericks, averaging a career-low 10.2 points per game on .405/.295/.717 shooting splits.
Russell is hoping to land with a playoff contender, according to sources close to the situation. The former second overall pick and 2019 All-Star needs to find a team willing to take a chance on a resurgence. His shooting has been well below his career averages for two straight years. In the 2024-25 season, split between the Lakers and Nets, he shot just 39.0% from the field and 31.4% from three-point range over 58 games.
His journey to Memphis was winding. Dallas traded him to Washington at the 2026 deadline in the Anthony Davis blockbuster, but he never reported to the Wizards. After exercising his $5.97 million player option in June, he was dealt to the Grizzlies in July as part of a massive six-team trade involving Isaiah Stewart, Santi Aldama, John Collins, and Khris Middleton.
This transaction is purely a financial and roster management decision for Memphis. It doesn't change their core rotation but does provide needed flexibility. The team is looking to bounce back from a tough end to the previous season.
Fans can track the team's progress and updated roster as they finalize their 15-man squad on our roster page. The front office's focus now shifts to the remaining roster decisions before opening night. For Russell, a fresh start elsewhere is the immediate goal as he aims to revive his NBA career.
