Memphis is looking to move D'Angelo Russell after a down year, and a second-round pick may be the most the Grizzlies can realistically expect in return.
The Memphis Grizzlies acquired veteran guard D'Angelo Russell this summer, but it felt more incidental than intentional.
They also landed center Isaiah Stewart. That felt like the primary purpose of getting involved in a massive, multiteam deal. Russell was brought in to make the money work.
Until recently, there had been speculation about what the Grizzlies might do with Russell. Could they keep him around as a veteran presence, or will they quickly move on?
Now, it seems like the dust has cleared. The Grizzlies are said to be looking to move Russell.
Will they find any value for him on the trade market?
Grizzlies Shouldn't Expect Much for Russell
Russell has had a successful NBA career, but last year was not his finest hour.
In 2025-26, he averaged 10.2 points and 4.0 assists per game while hitting just 29.5% of his triples. With a 51.1% True Shooting % (TS%), he was inefficient across the board.
Ultimately, three-point efficiency has been a defining aspect of Russell's career. His best NBA seasons correspond with his best three-point shooting years. That's fairly standard for any NBA guard. Russell is a good playmaker who can orchestrate a pick-and-roll, but if he's not a threat to his threes, he's not much of a threat at all.
Then, there's his age. Russell is 30. That gives him ample time to bounce back, but until teams see it happen, there's a fear that his best days are behind him. The fact that injuries limited him to 26 games last year only exacerbates the problem.
That's why the Grizzlies shouldn't expect a haul for Russell. He's coming off a poor season (in which he got injured, no less), and so he's now an unproven commodity.
That said, they should take whatever they can get.
Grizzlies Need Any Assets They Can Find
Even a second-round pick is better than nothing.
Down the line, that pick could have some use. Smart front offices understand that every trade doesn't have to be a home run. Hitting a series of singles until you gradually advance your position can be the best route to success.
Alternatively, there's no rush to move Russell. The Grizzlies could audition him up to the trade deadline. If he plays well, they could get more for him.
That said, there's also a risk that he plays poorly. So, if they want to cut ties with Russell now, that's fine if there's even marginal value on the table.
Even if there isn't, don't expect to see Russell on the Grizzlies for long.
