Former Ohio State basketball star involved in blockbuster NBA deal

A former Ohio State basketball star has found himself involved in a blockbuster deal on Tuesday.

D'Angelo Russell was included in an elaborate trade that will send him to the Memphis Grizzlies along with a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap. Russell was just a piece of a trade that involved the Grizzlies, LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards.

The Washington Wizards received Khris Middleton in the sign-and-trade and gave him a three-year, $17.6 million contract.

Russell entered the 2026-27 season after exercising his $5 million dollar player option. Before the 2025-26 season, he signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks for $13 million. He played 26 games for the Mavericks and averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He was then dealt to the Washington Wizards in the blockbuster deal that saw Anthony Davis moved. He did not play in a game for the Wizards.

As part of the elaborate six-team trade, the Washington Wizards are sending D'Angelo Russell, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/J7qwUL5n7r

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2026

The Memphis Grizzlies may be on the verge of a major rebuild after trading franchise star Ja Morant this offseason, and so it remains to be seen if Russell has a future in Memphis or if both sides will decide it is better to move in different directions.

The 30-year-old former No. 2 pick will be joining his seventh team in his NBA career. He has averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from behind the 3-point line since being drafted.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State basketball star involved in blockbuster NBA deal