The Memphis Grizzlies acquired D'Angelo Russell from the Washington Wizards.
D'Angelo Russell has a message for the NBA world.
The new Memphis Grizzlies vows to be "dangerous" after getting traded again.
Washington is sending Russell, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to Memphis.
The Grizzlies traded Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks and Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason. They also acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons.
Memphis got Cameron Boozer and Karim Lopez in the 2026 NBA Draft and acquired Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in the Morant trade. It's been a busy offseason for the Grizzlies' front office.
Russell will make $5.9 million next season in the final year of his contract. Let's wait and see if the veteran sticks around with the Grizzlies. He's better suited to play for a winning team at this stage of his career.
A one-time All-Star, Russell played in 26 games with the Mavericks last season before getting traded to the Wizards in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade. Russell, like Davis, didn't appear in a game with Washington. D'Lo finished last season with averages of 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game with Dallas.
Russell has played for the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), Brooklyn Nets (twice), Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Mavericks. He holds career averages of 17.0 points and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 14.2 points and 4.8 assists per game in the playoffs. Russell went to the Western Conference Finals in 2023 with the Lakers.
It's going to be a while before the Grizzlies make the playoffs again. However, at least they have a young building block in Boozer, who won the Player of the Year Award last season. The Duke forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 78.9% from the free-throw line.
In the post-Morant era, the Grizzlies will be led by Boozer, Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, GG Jackson and Lopez.
It remains to be seen if the Grizzlies will keep Russell on the roster, or ultimately decide to engage in buyout discussions. Given Russell just was traded to a team that was tanking amid a rebuilding effort in Washington before not playing again to end the season, it's difficult to envision there being a role in Memphis.
The Grizzlies have plenty of financial flexibility to make whatever decision they view as best for the franchise.
