The ex-Chicago Bulls, NBA Champion, Dennis Rodman, 61, presumably obtained or is obtaining his visa and is packing his bags. 

He’s planning on traveling to Russia to help secure Brittney Griner’s release.

The basketball star and  two-time Olympic gold medalist, Griner, was arrested at the a Moscow airport when police found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She was convicted on August 4. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. 

The US State Department is working on getting her out but an appeal is currently in the works in Russia.

Rodman has a history of his own charismatic, informal style of  diplomacy. He says he knows Vladimir Putin, in his words, “too well.” In a 2014 interview, he said Putin was “cool.”

He’s visited North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un a few times, initially in 2013.

The US State Department’s website warns Americans not to travel to Russia, due to the war in Ukraine and tension between the two countries. The State Department is discouraging Rodman from going. There is concern that he could be detained as well, and used as a bargaining chip. 

Rodman had some part in releasing Kenneth Bae, an American who had been in a North Korea prison for more than two and a half years. Bae was released in 2014. According to Rodman, he had corresponded with Kim Jong Un at the time. 

The US is attempting to obtain Griner’s release as well as the release of Paul Whelan, an American citizen in prison in Russia for espionage charges, serving a 16-year sentence. 

There is talk of a prisoner swap with Victor Bout, a Russian is nicknamed the “Merchant of Death.” He was convicted in 2011 in the US of a conspiracy to kill US citizens and officials.

Rodman was at a sneaker convention when he told NBC News that he “got permission” to travel to Russia. It’s not clear what “got permission” means. 

A spokesperson for the US State Department spokesperson told reporters on Sunday that they are aware of reports that Rodman may travel to Russia.