The arc of D’Angelo Russell’s career is not easy to parse. At 30 years old, one could say he has been a solid player, yet it is striking that he has produced such pronounced peaks—enough to earn an All-Star selection in 2019—while never quite cementing himself with a single team, and he has repeatedly faced criticism, including during his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Beyond opinions about his game, we are talking about a guard whose career averages hover around 17 points, 5.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 29.7 minutes per night. And even with those numbers, his seat in the NBA is not guaranteed.
According to Jake Fischer for Bleacher Report, the former No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft is on the list of players the Memphis Grizzlies could release to trim their roster to the league’s mandated maximum of 15 standard contracts.
By no means is this surprising. After arriving in a six-team trade, Yahoo Sports reporter Kelly Iko indicated that the Grizzlies would not keep the point guard. The decision had been made, but obviously they wanted to explore trade options before pursuing a buyout that would cost them money, a move that now seems inevitable.
For Russell’s consolation, the Bleacher Report journalist notes that there are three other players whose time in Memphis looks numbered: Walter Clayton Jr., Jordan Hawkins, and Kris Murray.
