The defining move of theMemphis Grizzlies’ offseason will likely be the decision to trade former All-Star point guard Ja Morant on June 29.What could become a forgotten footnote, however, is the acquisition of former All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell a week later.
Russell remains on Memphis’ roster, but his future with the franchise appears uncertain. He is one of several point guards on an overloaded roster that includes 18 players on guaranteed contracts. The Grizzlies must reduce that number to 15 before the regular season.
When Memphis acquired Russell, it also received a future second-round draft pick and an additional second-round pick swap. Those draft assets align more closely with the Grizzlies’ long-term direction than Russell himself.
Here’s a closer look at Russell’s outlook with the Grizzlies.
D’Angelo Russell contract
Russell is set to earn just over $5.9 million after exercising the player option in the second year of the two-year contract he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2025.
In his lone season with Dallas, Russell averaged 10.2 points and four assists in 26 games.
Depth chart
The Grizzlies have no shortage of backcourt options, many of whom can play multiple positions. Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Javon Small, Walter Clayton Jr. and Cam Spencer are among the guards expected to compete for rotation minutes.
Adding Russell to that mix only creates a bigger logjam. His ability to create offense and break down defenses would give Memphis another experienced playmaker, but there may only be room for three primary guards in the regular rotation.
If Russell remains with the Grizzlies, another guard would likely have to be moved. At the moment, that seems difficult to envision. Coach Tuomas Iisalo has consistently praised Pippen, while general manager Zach Kleiman has publicly expressed confidence in both Jerome and Spencer.
Possible outcomes
At 30, Russell is a veteran who has spent much of his career on teams with playoff aspirations. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, appear to be focused on building toward the future, with legitimate championship contention likely still years away.
One possibility would be a contract buyout similar to the one Memphis reached with 33-year-old wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on July 26.A trade, however, may be the more practical outcome.
Russell’s $5.9 million salary is considerably easier for another team to absorb than Caldwell-Pope’s contract was. Combined with his productive play in limited action last season, that lower salary could make him an attractive trade target for a team seeking veteran backcourt depth before the season begins.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What we're hearing about former all-star D'Angelo Russell's future with Grizzlies
