D’Angelo Russell has become the first veteran to pick up a player option this offseason, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who reports (via Twitter) that the Wizards point guard has opted in for the 2026/27 season.

The move ensures that Russell is guaranteed a $5,969,250 salary for the coming season. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he’ll remain a Wizard though, since the club could trade him or attempt to negotiate a buyout at some point in the coming days, weeks, or months.

Russell is a former All-Star who averaged over 20 points per game in multiple seasons earlier in his career. However, he was never a plus defender, and his offensive production has dropped off sharply in recent years.

After averaging 12.9 points per game with a .367/.297/.826 shooting line during the second half of the 2024/25 season with Brooklyn, the former second overall pick signed a two-year, $11.7MM with Dallas last offseason. The plan was for Russell to step in for Kyrie Irving as the Mavericks’ starting point guard until Irving was ready to return from his torn ACL, but D-Lo ended up making just three starts in 26 total outings for the club, averaging 10.2 PPG and 4.0 APG on .405/.295/.717 shooting.

Russell was traded from Dallas to Washington prior to February’s deadline in the blockbuster that also sent Anthony Davis to D.C., but the veteran guard wasn’t required to report to the Wizards and sat out the rest of the season.

With an offseason to reset, perhaps the Wizards and Russell will work out a plan to get him in the building for the 2026/27 season, but it seems more likely that he’ll be treated as a trade or buyout candidate this summer.

The Wizards had two veteran point guards with player option decisions to make this month. The other one, Trae Young, is reportedly opting out to become a free agent, though he’s still expected to re-sign with the team.