An NBA scout would take D'Angelo Russell over Bradley Beal or Russell Westbrook, with the Grizzlies guard expected to be moved before the season.
An opposing team's scout said he would rather add Memphis Grizzlies guard D'Angelo Russell than NBA free agent guards Bradley Beal or Russell Westbrook if the Miami Heat brings in another guard, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Friday.
"I would rather have him than Beal; I'd rather have him than Westbrook," the scout said.
The league-wide expectation is that Russell will be traded, bought out, or waived before the season begins. The scout, who was not identified, said Russell can score, pass, handle the ball, shoot, and create his own shot, and that he has always been a good passer. The same scout said Russell is not a good defender and has worn out his welcome everywhere.
Russell arrived in Memphis on July 8 in an 11-player, six-team trade that also involved Washington, Dallas, Milwaukee, Detroit, and the LA Clippers. Memphis acquired Isaiah Stewart, AJ Johnson, Russell, a conditional first-round pick, three second-round picks, and a second-round pick swap in the deal, according to the team's announcement. Santi Aldama went to Dallas.
Russell picked up his $5,969,250 player option in June, the first option exercised by any player this offseason. That salary covers 2026-27 and ends his two-year Dallas contract from 2025.
Last season, Russell played 26 games for Dallas, averaging 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He shot 40.5% from the field and 29.5% from 3, both career lows. Dallas traded him to Washington on Feb. 5 in the deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks, but he didn't play for the Wizards.
The second overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Ohio State, Russell was an All-Star in 2019 with Brooklyn. He carries career averages of 17.0 points and 5.6 assists in the regular season, and 14.2 points and 4.8 assists in the playoffs.
Memphis won 25 games last season and missed the playoffs. Ja Morant was traded to Portland this offseason for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, and Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to Utah last season. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. are on the roster at point guard, and Johnson came over in the same trade that brought Russell to Memphis.
Late in July, the Grizzlies waived Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, which dropped them to 18 standard contracts. On Wednesday, Memphis signed No. 21 pick Karim Lopez to a rookie scale contract that pays $3,746,760 next season and $18,368,804 over four years. Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick, signed July 13. Richie Saunders, drafted 32nd, is unsigned and recovering from a torn ACL at BYU in February.
Teams carry up to 15 contracts once the regular season begins. The luxury tax line for 2026-27 is $200,428,000.
