Russell Waived by Grizzlies After Two Trades, Zero Games
D'Angelo Russell is a free agent after the Memphis Grizzlies waived him on 25 September, having never played a game following back-to-back trades in nine months.
D'Angelo Russell is a free agent after the Memphis Grizzlies waived him on 25 September, per ESPN,—without him ever stepping on a court in a Grizzlies uniform. A six-team trade in July brought him to Memphis; now, after less than three months, he is searching for his next home.
Two Trades, One Season, Zero Games
Russell has now been traded seven times across his eleven-year career and was dealt twice in the space of nine months without appearing in a game for either destination. Per NBC Sports, he first arrived at Washington in February 2026 as part of the Anthony Davis deal but never suited up for the Wizards. Then, less than five months later, a sprawling six-team transaction involving Dallas, Washington, the LA Clippers, Detroit and Milwaukee sent him to Memphis in July. Again, he did not appear in a game.
The Grizzlies and Russell, per NBC Sports, had been working since late July to find him a new home before the season began. On 25 September, they made it official, waiving him and leaving him as an unrestricted free agent. His contract with Memphis, per NBC Sports, was worth $6 million and was set to be the final year of his deal.
A Rebuild Without Russell
Russell's departure comes as the Memphis Grizzlies undertake a significant rebuild. In June 2026, per ESPN, the Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. That move followed earlier trades that, per ESPN, saw Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. leave the franchise. The Russell waiver is another step in that reconstruction—and a sign that the veteran guard did not fit the direction the team wanted to move in.
The Grizzlies replaced Russell by signing undrafted guard Brendan Hausen, per Yahoo Sports, who played college basketball at Kansas State and Iowa. The move signals a shift toward youth and roster flexibility.
Recent Form and Career Arc
The numbers tell why Memphis parted ways so quickly. In 2025-26 with the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN, Russell appeared in just 26 games, averaging 10.2 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 40.5% from the field. That production marks a decline and suggested he was no longer capable of holding a rotation spot on a contending team—or a rebuilding one.
Over his eleven-year career across 655 games, per NBA.com, Russell has averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
| Category | Career (11 years) | 2025-26 (Dallas) |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 655 | 26 |
| Points per game | 17.0 | 10.2 |
| Assists per game | 5.6 | 4.0 |
| Rebounds per game | 3.3 | — |
| Field goal percentage | — | 40.5% |
What Comes Next
Per Yahoo Sports, Russell wants to join a playoff contender. With declining production, his options will be limited. Teams seeking to add depth at guard will consider him, but his recent struggles and the fact that two organizations deemed him expendable in the space of nine months may dampen interest.
Russell is now free to sign with any NBA team willing to offer him a contract. A contender looking for playoff depth—a reserve point guard or scoring punch off the bench—might still see use for him, though he arrives fresh off two trades without an appearance and a difficult 26-game stretch in Dallas.
For Memphis, the waiver represents a clean break from a bet that did not pay off. The Grizzlies continue their rebuild, opening a roster spot for younger players to develop. His place on the roster has already gone to Brendan Hausen.