Analyzing everything from draft picks to trades to the summer league roster
The Washington Wizards have won just 33 games across the first two years of a long-awaited rebuild, and more losing is likely in store next season. However, things are trending up entering the team’s third offseason under General Manager Will Dawkins.
Not only did Dawkins deal Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis mere weeks into his tenure, but he’s also drafted four quality first-round picks (Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George), traded for another (AJ Johnson) and selected Tristan Vukcevic in the second round.
While Washington’s lottery luck hasn’t been great, they’re in a much better spot today than they were two years ago when they finished 35-47 for the second consecutive season and owed Bradley Beal $200 million across four more years of his supermax contract that included a full no-trade clause.
The 2025 offseason in exciting for Washington, for it offers another chance to inject more young talent into a roster filled with growing potential.
Here’s five intriguing storylines to monitor throughout the 2025 offseason.
- The NBA Draft
For rebuilding teams like Washington, it feels like the draft is their version of the playoffs. I mean, the Wizards’ season of losing was essentially to guarantee a top pick and build a competitive roster that way.
The Wizards own three picks in the 2025 NBA Draft:
- No. 6
- No. 18 (via Memphis)
- No. 40 (via Phoenix)
Washington could do a plethora of things at No. 6. They could go star hunting by trading up to select a high-upside prospect, or they could stay put and select the best player available, which, based on most draft boards, will be one of the following prospects:
- Ace Bailey
- VJ Edgecombe
- Tre Johnson
- Jeremiah Fears
- Derik Queen
- Kon Knueppel
- Khaman Maluach
- Noa Essengue
- Egor Demin
As you can see, that range is quite vast, which makes a trade back a possibility as well. A team like Brooklyn, who owns four first-round picks and is rumored to highly covet Fears, could package No. 8 and additional draft capital to move up with Washington.
The Wizards also own the No. 18 pick, which stems from a deadline deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. While talent will certainly be available in that range, Dawkins has been unafraid to package draft assets to move up and select the player he covets. He did so in 2023 when the Wizards traded up to select Bilal Coulibaly and again in 2024 to select Bub Carrington at No. 14 and Kyshawn George at No. 24.
Washington also owns the No. 40 pick, which stems from the Bradley Beal trade with Phoenix. The Wizards could stay put in Round 2, but don’t be surprised if this pick is packaged to move up in the first round.
2. The trade outlook of Smart, Middleton and Kispert
Washington owns one of the league’s youngest rosters, but a few trade-deadline deals brought in seasoned veterans Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton. And while he would be considered young on most rosters, Corey Kispert, 26, is considered a veteran on the Wizards and thus fits this category.
It would make sense for Washington to look into trading both Smart and Middleton, just as they’ve done with most of the veterans they’ve acquired via trade throughout this rebuild, but deals will be hard to come by due to the duo’s bloated salaries. Middleton, 33, is owed $34 million next season, and Smart, 31, is due $21 million.
While Washington acquired draft capital for Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford and Jonas Valanciunas over the last two years, they struggled to get value for other veterans, failing to net a return for Tyus Jones, Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon.
Kispert is a different story, as he’s much younger and on a far cheaper contract. His four-year, $54 million extension kicks in for the 2025-26 campaign. Should Washington wish to ship Kispert off to a contender for draft capital, which I deem unlikely, a late first-round pick or a pair of future second rounders is the likely return.
If Middleton and Smart are dealt, a trade-deadline deal makes more sense, while a draft-night trade more closely fits the description of a possible Kispert deal.
3. A potentially stacked Summer League roster
The Wizards’ three first-round picks from the 2024 draft — Sarr, Carrington and George — are expected to participate in NBA Summer League play this July. They also acquired AJ Johnson, who was selected 23rd in the 2024 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, at the trade deadline.
If those four second-year players participate in Summer League, the Wizards could throw out a starting lineup featuring five first-round picks from the previous two drafts (and have one coming off the bench if they keep both No. 6 and No. 18).
That would make for a fun July for Wizards fans looking to watch the growth of their young players.
Washington’s potential Summer League starting five:
G: Bub Carrington
G: AJ Johnson
G/F: No. 6 pick
F: Kyshawn George
C: Alex Sarr
Third-year players Bilal Coulibaly and Tristan Vukcevic could technically suit up for Summer League, but that would be surprising, as it typically features rookies and second-year players.
4. How busy will the Wizards be in free agency?
Entering Year 3 of the rebuild, Washington is expected to take a reserved, yet methodical approach to free agency. Remember, the Wizards signed just two free agents and re-signed two of their own players last offseason:
- Jonas Valanciunas: 3 years, $30M
- Saddiq Bey: 3 years, $19M
- Anthony Gill: 2 years, $4.78M
- Tristan Vukcevic: Two-way contract
Valanciunas was shipped out months later for a pair of second-round picks, Bey didn’t play all season while rehabbing an ACL injury and Gill served as the team’s veteran mentor while playing sporadic minutes.
Dawkins has yet to make a “splash” free agent signing, and I don’t expect this offseason to feature the first.
Brogdon, who isn’t expected to re-sign, is Washington’s lone free agent. Richaun Holmes, who provided solid backup center minutes in the second half of the 2024-25 season, is technically under contract for $13.28M next season, but only $250,000 of that is guaranteed, so the Wizards could move on from Holmes if they wish.
5. How possible is a Jordan Poole trade?
Jordan Poole carried the Wizards in many of the team’s 18 wins last season, draining 37.8% of his 3-point attempts en route to a breakout campaign in which he averaged career-highs in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
Poole, 25, is owed $31.8 million in 25-26 and $34 million in 26-27. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 26-27 season.
At such a lofty cap hit, a trade to a contending team seems unlikely, especially considering the inconsistent nature of Poole’s game. Some nights, he looks like a true lead guard that can help a team win a bunch of games. On other nights when his shot isn’t falling and he’s racking up turnovers, that cap figure looks rough.
To move on from Poole, I think Washington would need at least two first-round picks. The issue: I don’t think there’s a team willing to pay that price. For that reason, I doubt a Jordan Poole deal comes together anytime soon.
I also don’t think Washington will be in a rush to trade Poole. While it would open up minutes for younger guards like Carrington, Johnson, Jones and whoever they draft in June, Poole’s leadership has been important for the Wizards’ young players, especially Coulibaly.
After an impressive 24-25 campaign, I would be surprised if Poole isn’t Washington’s starting point guard on opening night.
