The Memphis Grizzlies have waived veteran guard D'Angelo Russell as they continue trimming their roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the move on Friday, with Memphis needing to reduce the number of players on its roster before the start of the season.
Russell now has an opportunity to join another NBA team before opening night.
The 30-year-old former All-Star had joined Memphis during the offseason but will leave the franchise without appearing in a regular-season game.
Russell has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks during a 10-year NBA career.
His release immediately adds an experienced ball-handler and scorer to the late-offseason free-agent market.
Lean Edge Thoughts...
D'Angelo Russell's Memphis career has ended before it ever really began.
And at 30 years old, the more interesting question is what comes next.
Russell is no longer the 19-year-old prospect selected second overall by the Lakers.
He's no longer the 22-year-old Brooklyn guard who became an All-Star and appeared to be establishing himself as one of the league's emerging lead guards.
Ten NBA seasons have changed the conversation.
Russell has become one of the league's great basketball travellers.
Los Angeles. Brooklyn. Golden State. Minnesota. Los Angeles again. Dallas. Memphis.
Now another destination could be coming.
There is still an NBA player here.
Russell can handle the ball, organise an offence and create his own shot. He has extensive playoff experience and has spent significant portions of his career playing alongside high-usage stars.
For a team searching for another ball-handler before the season begins, that has value.
But his release also illustrates how dramatically his position in the league has changed.
Once upon a time, teams were building backcourts around D'Angelo Russell.
Now the question is which roster has a role for him.
That doesn't necessarily make Memphis' decision an indictment of Russell as a player.
The Grizzlies entered this stage of the offseason needing to reduce an overcrowded roster. Somebody was always going to lose a seat when the music stopped.
Russell simply became one of them.
And the timing could actually help him.
Being waived before the season gives Russell and his representatives an opportunity to survey the league before rotations become established.
Injuries will happen. Teams will discover holes during training camp. Coaches will realise they don't have enough creation on their second unit.
A veteran guard with Russell's résumé suddenly being available could become considerably more attractive in that environment.
The destination matters too.
At this stage of his career, another team offering Russell 30 minutes and unlimited shots probably isn't the most interesting outcome.
Finding a role where his shooting and playmaking complement an established group might be.
Russell's career has already contained enough reinventions.
He may need one more.
LEAN EDGE VERDICT
Being waived in September isn't where D'Angelo Russell would have imagined his career sitting when he became an All-Star in Brooklyn seven years ago.
But it doesn't have to be the ending either.
Russell is 30, experienced and still capable of giving an NBA team scoring and secondary creation.
What has changed is the leverage.
He isn't choosing which franchise gets to build around him anymore.
He's looking for the franchise where the right role still exists.
Memphis has made its decision.
Now Russell gets to make his next one.
