What happened: D'Angelo Russell has exercised his player option for the 2026-27 season, a $6 million salary that keeps him with the Washington Wizards, per reporting from Jake Fischer and Marc Stein. The news lands as part of a run of NBA intel the pair are releasing ahead of Tuesday's NBA Draft.
Why it matters: Picking up the option keeps the veteran guard on Washington's books rather than entering a free-agent market that offered no guarantee of matching that figure. It also gives the Wizards cost certainty in the backcourt as they sort out their roster around the draft.
By the numbers: Russell's 2026-27 player option is worth $6 million.
What to watch: Watch how the decision factors into Washington's plans through Tuesday's draft, with Fischer and Stein signaling more intel still to come.