Who still wants to employ 30-year-old D'Angelo Russell? That is about to become a very relevant question in the NBA amid the coming roster crunch for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The latest from The Stein Line reminded everyone that Memphis is way over the roster limit ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 season. They currently sit at 19 players, and need to be at 15 by opening night. It was specified that looming decision puts Jordan Hawkins, Kris Murray, and Micah Peavy in 'various levels of peril.'
One player who is expected to be cast aside, according to Jake Fischer, is the former Los Angeles Lakers guard. Russell was described as 'the most likely vet' to be dismissed from the Grizzlies amid their roster crunch. That brings us back to the initial wonder: What happens next for D-Lo?
A lot of teams have already filled up their rosters. Many, such as the Lakers, are even over the limit just like the Grizzlies. Those squads will be shedding, not adding. In a competitive landscape, there may not be an obvious place to point to as Russell's next home.
That poses the next question: Does he eventually find one, or is this it?
D'Angelo Russell's NBA career could be nearing its end
Russell is coming off a campaign where he split time between the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards. In Dallas, his uninspiring play got him benched despite the Mavericks' clear need for point guard help. After being traded to the Wizards, he did not play.
The Lakers thought mightily of Russell when they selected him second overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. After 11 years of a solid, but noticeably fading career in the league, his perception has clearly taken a dip.
Russell could soon be in the same position as another former top-five pick of the Lakers, Lonzo Ball. Ball fought valiantly to return to the court after years of injury troubles. Despite that, a rough 2025-26 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers got him stuck in no man's land, still searching for a new team today.
At this point of his career, Russell is a known quantity. That can sometimes be a good thing for NBA veterans. In his case, it may not be enough to land his next gig.
Russell's best hopes might be to get a training camp deal with one of the teams that does still have an open roster spot. The veteran guard can plead his case in that setting. Otherwise, it may not be long until he is out of the league completely.
Add us as a preferred source on Google