3 Potential Landing Spots For Buyout Candidate D'Angelo Russell

July 23, 2026
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Hopefully he didn't unpack his bags in Memphis yet. D'Angelo Russell has only been with the Grizzlies for a couple of weeks after a massive six-team trade, but it seems he'll be on the move once again in short order—one way or another.  “Grizzlies point guard D’Angelo Russell is not believed to be a long-term piece in Memphis, with both sides expected to work together toward a resolution that would allow the 30-year-old to find a new home at some point this offseason, whether via a buyout agreement or a trade, sources tell Yahoo Sports,” Kelly Iko reports.

Clearly, D'Lo is not a fit for a young, rebuilding team with a core that includes Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and the 2026 3rd overall Draft pick, Cameron Boozer.

On the buyout market, however, there could be some teams willing to take a chance on a decent veteran playmaker off the bench. Here, we take a look at three potential landing spots for the former one-time All-Star. 

Atlanta Hawks

CJ McCollum has been excellent as the lead guard since coming over to the Hawks midway through last season. But let's face facts, at 3.8 assists per game over the course of his long career, he has never really been known for his playmaking, but rather as a long-range shooter and as a scorer playing more often off the ball. Atlanta could use another true playmaker in its backcourt, and "would benefit from having a veteran floor general orchestrating their second-unit offense," Siddhant Gupta writes in Fadeaway World. "Given how effective D’Angelo Russell has proven himself, especially in half-court sets, Atlanta could see value in signing him to a low-cost deal."

Charlotte Hornets

The Bugs moved on from LaMelo Ball this offseason in a blockbuster deal, and now must find a way to replace those 7 or 8 assists per night. Coby White was brought in last season and is set to start at the point, but having a true floor general to come in off the bench would certainly be a prudent move. Could D'Lo be the play here? 

"With some athletic centers and shooters in the rotation, adding a player like Russell to lead the second unit could prove immensely fruitful. When also factoring in how limited Charlotte’s point guard depth is, having a player like D’Angelo Russell could serve as insurance for injuries," Gupta noted.

Miami Heat

The Heat have already made one blockbuster move this offseason, bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and are still in the race to make another, if LeBron James agrees to take his talents back to South Beach. But neither of them will address the shortage in the backcourt after the losses of Tyler Herro and young up-and-coming playmaker Kasparas Jakučionis in the Giannis trade. 
Russell is a proven vet who could make for a key fallback with only the defensive-minded Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith currently listed on the depth chart at the 'one'.

And of course, if all of those options fall through for D'Lo, cynical fans have a suggestion:
In 11 NBA seasons, Russell has averaged  17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, while shooting 36.3% from three-point range.
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