D’Angelo Russell signs in China after NBA market dries up

D’Angelo Russell was reportedly hoping to join an NBA playoff contender. Instead, he’s headed to China.

Russell has signed with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to the CBA and Chinese basketball reporter Zhang Duo, as relayed by Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors⁠.

It’s quite a turn for a player who was an NBA All-Star seven years ago.

Russell, 30, was waived by the Grizzlies last week and reportedly hoped another contender would come calling. Apparently, the market wasn’t there. So it’s Shanghai.

Russell averaged 10.2 points in 26 appearances for the Mavericks last season before being sent to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade. The Wizards didn’t require him to report, and he eventually landed in Memphis as part of a six-team deal this summer.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft has averaged 17.0 points and 5.6 assists across 655 career games.

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That’s a pretty substantial NBA résumé. Whether it’s finished remains to be seen.

For now, Russell gets the opportunity to play major minutes again.

He’ll just be doing it a long way from the NBA.