Memphis cut D’Angelo Russell on Friday, absorbing the $5.9 million remaining on his contract. The 30-year-old guard is now a free agent after a year in which he suited up for one team, was traded to two others, and played for none of them.
The waiver came after Memphis spent the summer trying — and failing — to move Russell via trade. He had arrived in the city through a chain of moves tied to the Anthony Davis deal, which sent him to Washington. Russell never reported to the Wizards, was subsequently traded to Memphis, and won’t appear for them either.
The numbers, the market, the next chapter
His last NBA production came with Dallas: 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game across 26 games. Serviceable, not compelling. No team was willing to take that on in exchange for anything useful, which is how you end up with a $5.9 million buyout and no takers.
Russell, at 30, still has a skill set that fits somewhere in the NBA — a creator who can hit pull-up threes, run a two-man game, and give a team 25-30 minutes of offensive punch. The market will be limited, but it won’t be empty. A mid-range contract, a backup role, and a team willing to bet on a bounce-back is the realistic path forward from here.
