D'Angelo Russell Picks Up 2026-27 Option with Wizards

The Washington Wizards will now officially have a decision to make in the backcourt.

Ahead of the upcoming deadline on Tuesday, June 23, point guard D'Angelo Russell has opted into his nearly $6 million player-option for the 2026-27 season, an decision that was expected heading into the rest of the month.

Whether Russell remains on the Wizards' roster to open next season is another question after never joining the team followed the trade deadline. Russell played 26 games for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2025-26 regular season before being part of the Anthony Davis package that sent him from Dallas to DC.

The Wizards made their plans clear with each player immediately after the trade was officially announced. Dante Exum was waived the day after the trade was finalized, while general manager Will Dawkins made clear the organization would remain patient with Davis's recovery while not ruling out a debut, but that never materialized as signs continue to point to the ten-time All Star returning to DC for another season. The lone player involved in the trade who did suit up during the second half of the season was Jaden Hardy, who averaged 12.6 points on 44.3% shooting from the field and 42% from three across 23 games.

As for Russell, Dawkins made clear that the two sides were in negotiation with the expectation that Russell would not report to the team. Despite a one-time hope that the tune would change and Russell would report to the team, that never materialized with questions about whether the Wizards will ultimately find a trade partner or waive him heading into the rest of the offseason.

Russell averages 17 points and 5.6 assists while starting in just over 82% of his career 655 appearances, but he also arrived in DC as part of an already established backcourt featuring its young core.

Though Trae Young appeared in five games, Washington also turned to Baltimore native Bub Carrington as the primary point guard with Sharife Cooper rounding out the minutes through the end of the season. Washington could ultimately turn to former Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the first pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, set to kick off on Tuesday, with growing momentum around the consensus top two pick. Whether Dawkins and the front office opts to change their tune with what could be an even more crowded backcourt will be the next question to be answered.

Wizards Roundtable also offers a fan community. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Wizards. Create an account, click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our free community and follow for all of our coverage, analysis and more!