Memphis Grizzlies Waived D'Angelo Russell
The Memphis Grizzlies released guard D'Angelo Russell in a move to reduce the team's roster size.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Basketball
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The Memphis Grizzlies have officially waived D'Angelo Russell, who joined the franchise during the 2026 offseason. Russell never appeared in a regular-season game for the team before the roster move.
Why it matters
The decision to waive the veteran guard allows the Grizzlies to trim their roster ahead of the upcoming campaign. This move leaves Russell as a free agent eligible to sign with a new team before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
D'Angelo Russell was originally selected as the 2nd overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He holds a career track record that includes an All-Star selection earned in 2019 while playing for the Brooklyn Nets.
The players
D'Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell is a veteran NBA guard who was a former All-Star and the second overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team competing in the NBA's Western Conference.
The details
Russell joins the free agent market after his brief tenure in Memphis, having previously played for the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks. The team executed the waiver to adjust its personnel numbers.
Timeline
D'Angelo Russell was selected in the NBA Draft in 2015.
Russell earned an All-Star selection in 2019.
Russell arrived in Memphis during the 2026 offseason.
The Grizzlies waived D'Angelo Russell on September 25, 2026.
Russell is expected to join a new team before the 2026-27 NBA season.
Season Trajectory
This roster move allows the Memphis Grizzlies to finalize their core rotation as they prepare for the competitive demands of the Western Conference. It also provides the veteran guard an immediate opportunity to secure a spot on a new roster before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The waiver frees up a roster spot for the Grizzlies to sign other depth players before the regular season tips off. Fantasy managers and followers of the league should monitor which roster he joins next to determine his potential impact on the court for the upcoming year.
The takeaway
The move underscores the fluid nature of NBA rosters as teams make final adjustments during the transition into the regular season. For players, this period highlights the importance of maintaining readiness to adapt to new franchise systems on short notice.
Further reading
For more news on local professional play, visit our Basketball section.
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