The Washington Wizards have been one of the busiest teams at the NBA trade deadline, but they’re buying, not selling. A 13-36 team that has been in the lottery for the last four seasons (and heading for a fifth in a row this year) does not scream buyer. But the Wizards have not only bought, but they’ve gone fully after it.
What is happening with the Washington Wizards?
First, the Washington Wizards made a trade for Trae Young. He was acquired for pennies on the dollar because of his outsized contract and lack of a few things the modern NBA prioritizes, like size and athleticism.
That wasn’t a huge shock, but it was strange that the young and rebuilding Wizards wanted an aging star. They didn’t pay much for him, only sending CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks. It wasn’t a bad deal, but it was a little odd.
Things got so much stranger the day before the trade deadline. With all the rumors surrounding Anthony Davis, it wasn’t a shock that he got traded. But when it was reported that the Wizards were going after him, that sent shockwaves around the NBA.
The Dallas Mavericks parted with Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum. They sent them to the Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round draft picks, and three second-round picks.
It’s a huge price, and while Davis is very good, his contract and injury woes should’ve depleted the return somewhat. It appears that the Wizards didn’t get him at a discount, though. In fact, they seem to have paid a premium price.
It’s all very shocking. The Wizards are not competitive right now. They’re tied for the second-fewest wins in the NBA, and it’s not because they’re missing stars. They’re young and noncompetitive, which is fine when you’re a rebuilding team.
But the Wizards must not think of themselves as a rebuilding team anymore. Davis and Young are win-now (or at least very soon) moves.
Why would the Wizards do this?
It can be frustrating to endlessly languish in the lottery like the Washington Wizards had been doing. However, rebuilds take time, and to become a consistent winner, they’re pretty much necessary. Look at the Oklahoma City Thunder. They rebuilt and are about to be the biggest dynasty since the 2010s Golden State Warriors.
The Wizards appear to have really jumped the gun. Alex Sarr took a big step, and he looks like a franchise player in year two. Rookie Tre Johnson is exciting, and he gives the Wizards a one-two punch that they can really build with. Adding Cam Boozer or someone at the top of this elite draft class will give them a great trio to grow with.
They still have Sarr and will probably still get a good prospect in the draft. They won’t land Boozer or anyone of that caliber, but this is a loaded class. They’re still going to have the young pieces, but now they have fewer future assets, much less cap space, and a whole lot of questions.
On paper, the roster of Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis, and a good prospect from the 2026 draft is really nice. Is it enough to win a title? Probably not, but you can’t fault them for thinking that is a good collection of players.
But the problem is, they’re now spending well over $100 million on Davis and Young, and they might not get 100 games combined from them. Neither has suited up for the Wizards. Davis is out until March. Young might be out until then, too.
Maybe that helps them get a good draft pick in 2026, but that still leaves them with a ton of big salaries and major injury risks next season and beyond. The alternative would’ve been to keep building and growing, which would’ve likely made for a more sustainable version of success.
The Wizards will be solid for a couple of years, but after that? They might regret having gone all-in when they did.
Related Posts
