D’Angelo Russell has opted into his $6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, keeping him under contract with the Washington Wizards instead of entering free agency this summer.
D’Angelo Russell’s offseason decision came with a clean bottom line: he will be in Washington for the 2026-27 season.
The Washington Wizards guard has exercised his $6 million player option for 2026-27, avoiding free agency this summer. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported the move on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Per source: D’Angelo Russell has opted in to his 2026-27 player option with the Wizards worth $6 million.”
Russell arrives at this moment with a recent trade story still fresh. He came to Washington as part of the blockbuster trade-deadline deal that brought Anthony Davis to the Wizards from the Dallas Mavericks. That trade was one of several major moves Washington’s front office made as it tried to accelerate its timeline and build around established stars.
The guard, 30 years old, spent the first part of the 2025-26 season with Dallas before being included in the deal. In 26 games with the Mavericks—three of them as a starter—Russell averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. His shooting line was 40.5% from the field, and he also posted a career-low 29.5% from 3-point range across 19.0 minutes per contest.
Since the trade, there has been one missing piece of his Wizards picture: Russell did not appear in a game for Washington following the move. Still, his decision to opt in keeps the Wizards stocked with an experienced veteran guard as the franchise heads into what could be a pivotal offseason.
Russell’s resume is built for that kind of role. He is a former All-Star and the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. with more than a decade of NBA experience. Washington is now preparing to shape a new core around star guard Trae Young. and Russell’s return provides depth in a backcourt that includes that centerpiece.
The stakes for Washington are clear in the standings and the calendar. The Wizards finished the 2025-26 season with a 17-65 record and secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Washington is widely projected to select AJ Dybantsa when the draft begins Tuesday.
With Davis, Young, and the top overall pick expected to join the roster next season, Russell’s opt-in adds another layer of continuity. For a franchise reshaping its roster ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, it’s one more familiar name staying put while the rest of the pieces are repositioned.
Washington Wizards D'Angelo Russell player option 2026-27 season $6 million Trae Young Anthony Davis AJ Dybantsa 2026 NBA Draft