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[Washington Wizards]

Here’s a mock draft roundup of whom the Wizards could pick at No. 6, 18

Here is a mock up of who the Wizards could be selecting at No. 6 and No. 18.

I know. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about the 2025 NBA Draft. I’ve still been in a state of disappointment since the Wizards fell to No. 6 on the Draft Lottery. But life moves on, and now it’s time for Washington to make the most out of their situation. Here is a roundup of the players whom the Wizards could select at No. 6 and No. 18.

NBA.com consensus mock draft​

• No. 6: Kon Knueppel, F, Duke
• No No. 18 projection

ESPN mock draft by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo​

• No. 6: Khaman Malauch, C, Duke by both
• No. 18: Givony picked Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin while Woo picked Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, Connecticut

Bleacher Report by Jonathan Wasserman​

• No. 6: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
• No. 18: Rasheer Fleming, PF, St. Joseph’s

CBS Sports mock draft​

• No. 6: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
• No. 18: Asa Newell, PF, Georgia

NBADraft.net mock draft​

• No. 6: Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin
• No. 18: Carter Bryant, SF, Arizona

There isn’t a clear consensus on whom the Wizards are likely to pick. After all, that’s what picking at No. 6 will often do for a team as opposed to picking at No. 1 or No. 2.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ft-2025-washington-wizards-mock-draft-roundup

 

[Washington Wizards]

Five Wizards storylines to monitor this offseason

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.

1. 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.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/11/24446817/five-wizards-storylines-to-monitor-this-offseason

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Finals 2025 Game 3 open thread

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chat about the finals here.

Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers is tonight. Tip off is at about 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch it on ABC or WJLA-TV in the DMV. Enjoy!

You can also join Kevin Broom on for a Wizards-center watch party on Playback for tonight’s game.

The series is tied. Let’s see how this next game goes!

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/11/24447642/nba-finals-2025-game-3-open-thread

 

[Washington Wizards]

Report: Poole could be a trade target on draft day

Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards guard is linked to being a player who could be sent to other teams as early as draft day.

Jordan Poole’s time with the Washington Wizards started out rather rocky, but things stabilized in the 2024-25 NBA season when he averaged 20.5 points per game. According to a recent report from Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board, there’s growing belief around the league that the Wizards are open to moving Poole, potentially as soon as draft night on June 25.

After being traded from the Golden State Warriors in the Chris Paul deal back in July 2023, Poole became one of the faces of Washington’s rebuild. But with the team holding two first-round picks (Nos. 6 and 18) in the 2025 NBA Draft and no clear timeline to compete, the front office appears willing to listen to offers for any player not on a rookie deal.

Poole showed flashes of his scoring prowess last season but also struggled with consistency, shot selection, and defense. His $31.8 million salary for the 2025–26 season could make him a salary dump or a piece in a larger trade package depending on how the Wizards prioritize flexibility.

It’s unclear what teams could be more aggressive in making an offer for Poole, but Washington would likely want more first round draft picks or prospects in return.

For the Wizards, moving Poole would further signal their full embrace of a long-term rebuild. It would also give them more breathing room to develop young guards like Bilal Coulibaly and whoever they select in the upcoming draft.

While no deal is imminent, the Poole situation is worth watching as Washington reshapes its roster over the next several weeks. If a team sees him as a change-of-scenery candidate with untapped upside, a deal could come together quickly.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ton-wizards-jordan-poole-trade-target-rumores

 

[Washington Wizards]

Live: NBA Draft "Sleepers" podcast

Austin Reeves and Andrew Nembhard both appeared on our “sleepers” list in the past and have gone on to productive NBA careers. | Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Here are some names likely to outperform their draft position

At 805 p.m. EST tonight, Kevin Broom and I will be going over the NBA Draft prospects we are higher on than consensus and would like the Wizards to take somewhere in this draft (or even as undrafted free agents).

We will each name three players we see as "sleepers" compared to their consensus ranking and explain our respective thinking behind why we like those players. And conversely, why we aren't as concerned about potential red flags that may have lowered their stock in the eyes of draft analysts. We'll also take some live questions from the YouTube chat for anyone following along in real-time.

In past years, a few of the players I've advocated for here on Bullets Forever have aged pretty well, including: Santi Aldama, Miles McBride, Andrew Nembhard, Paul Reed Jr., Austin Reeves, Marcus Sasser Jr., and Vince Williams Jr.

Some of the others, well, not so much. Kendall Brown, Lamine Diane, Justinian Jessup, Jaden Springer, and Robert Woodard II didn't work out quite as well for me. Essentially, when I whiff, I like to go all-out.

So tune in to find out if we pick out the next Justin Champagnie or the next Issuf Sanon!

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...reeves-andrew-nembhard-santi-aldama-paul-reed

 

[Washington Wizards]

Poll results show NBA Finals don’t feel “big” to a majority of fans

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

In addition, most fans don’t care whether the Finals

This week’s SB Nation Reacts polls reveals how NBA fans are experiencing this year’s Finals—and the results suggest a divided audience when it comes to the feel and presentation of the league’s biggest stage.

According to the first poll, only 47 percent of NBA fans believe the Finals “feel big” this year. That means a slight majority—53 percent—don’t view the championship round as delivering the gravitas and spectacle that typically define it. Whether that’s due to market size, lack of superstar narratives, or fan fatigue, the result underscores a potential branding issue for the league’s showcase event.

Interestingly, this lukewarm sentiment also appears in how fans perceive the aesthetics of the Finals. The second poll shows that just 42 percent of respondents care whether the official NBA Finals logo appears on the court. Despite the NBA making an intentional decision to exclude the logo from center court in favor of preserving each team’s home branding, the data indicates that a clear majority of fans are indifferent to this design choice.

Here are this week's SB Nation Reacts results. They are based on the NBA Finals so far. pic.twitter.com/QEb56W9cHC

— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) June 13, 2025​

I also don’t care that much myself about markings on the floor. But I get that there probably should be some distinct markings on basket stanchions or on the sidelines that the Finals are being played.

Combined, the numbers appear to paint a picture of a Finals series struggling to resonate beyond hardcore fans. While the competition itself may still be strong, the broader cultural moment—what makes the Finals feel like a true event—seems to be missing for many.

These findings could push the league to rethink how it packages and presents the Finals in the future. Whether through enhanced storytelling, bolder visuals, or expanded in-arena experiences, the NBA has some work to do if it wants to recapture the “big game” feeling for a wider swath of its fanbase.

For now, nearly half the audience is engaged—but half isn’t. And in a league that thrives on spectacle, that’s a number worth watching.

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FanDuel is an SB Nation/Vox Media partner.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ba-finals-dont-feel-big-to-a-majority-of-fans

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Finals 2025 Game 4 open thread

Photo by Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images

Chat about the finals here.

Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers is tonight. Tip off is at about 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch it on ABC or WJLA-TV in the DMV. Enjoy!

You can also join Kevin Broom on for a Wizards-center watch party on Playback for tonight’s game.

The Pacers lead the series 2-1. Let’s see how this next game goes!

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/13/24448751/nba-finals-2025-game-4-open-thread

 

[Washington Wizards]

Identifies six intriguing prospects, YODA does

Georgia forward Asa Newell (14) | Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

Not necessarily to be picked high (or at all) — but interesting

In the category of Dates That Snuck Up On Me, the NBA Draft is somehow in 10 days. I’m still geeking out over the Finals, which have been far more competitive and entertaining than I anticipated — and based on the preceding three rounds of playoffs, I expected them to be terrific.

Shameless plug: Please join me in the Bullets Forever Finals Watch Party on Playback for a somewhat Wizards-centric look at the game. And, when a lead balloons, we’ll talk draft prospects, history, the future, and whatever else comes to mind.

Note: “Wizards centric” in this context does not mean complaining every five minutes about Washington not picking Tyrese Haliburton despite promising him they would.

By now, you likely know that after a season overstuffed with brutal losses, The Fates awarded the Wizards with the worst possible pick they could get. Somehow, to The Gods of Basketball, Washington’s ethical tanking — they used young players but at least tried to win games — was deemed less worthy of a good pick than the unethical tanking of the Utah Jazz.

In fairness, the Jazz also got the worst possible pick they could get. Still, in an effort to lose while in technical compliance with a league-office edict that made them stop sitting 23-year-old rim protector Walker Kessler for “rest,” Utah had the seven-footer jack up threes (it was even more clownish in real life than it feels when written down). It’s entirely possible Kessler has blocked more opponent three-point attempts than he has career made threes.

Anyway, over the next 10 days leading up to the draft, I’ll have some position breakdowns and rankings. My stat-based draft evaluation tool dubbed Ye Olde Draft Analyzer (YODA for short) has its usual assortment of disagreements with the assessments of Ones Who Watch.

Reminder: my draft prospect evaluation is driven almost entirely by stats. The basic system is derived from my PPA metric and includes points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, shooting efficiency from the floor and free throw line, turnovers and fouls. There are adjustments for level of competition, athletic/physical tools, and anticipated NBA position.

This year, I’m borrowing from Kevin Pelton’s draft evaluation process by including a limited adjustment for the assessment of scouts, as expressed through a consensus mock draft. Basically, there’s a very small “bonus” awarded to prospects expected to go in the top 10.

Why add that layer of subjectivity? A couple reasons: First, I’ve long needed some mechanism to help identify good prospects who didn’t perform well in college for some reason, and second because if I was working with a team, I’d explicitly include in my model the assessment of “eyeball” scouts.

Below are a few of the players that intrigue me based on this year’s process (one note, exact position may change by a few spots in my final rankings):

• Asa Newell, F, Georgia — Consensus: 18. YODA: 6 — Newell is athletic (though he didn’t score quite high enough in the combine tests to earn the bump to his overall grade) and high effort shows in the numbers. His strengths include finishing well inside, rebounding, and defending. Why might YODA be wrong? Sub-30% three-point shooting, not much playmaking, relatively short arms (wingspan only a couple inches longer than his height).
• Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State — Consensus: 15. YODA: 10 — The “negatives”: Richardson is small in the way I incorporate length in YODA and tested as a decent but unspectacular athlete at the combine. He’s also more combo guard than point guard. That said, he’s a terrific shooter from deep and from the free throw line, who also found ways to finish effectively inside the arc. He should not be a candidate at six, but could be an interesting third guard for someone in the later part of the lottery.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Michigan State guard Jase Richardson

• Johni Broome, C, Auburn — Consensus: 36. YODA: 14 — I know, I know. He’s 23 years old, which is ancient for an NBA prospect. He’s small for an NBA big. He didn’t leap well at the combine. He was also crazy productive with strong rebounding, decent playmaking (assists are often a good indicator of defensive impact for bigs), who defends well. He reminds me a bit of Al Horford. His agility was outstanding at the combine, which is important for a modern big. Plus, he has a great name.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Auburn big man Johni Broome

• Rasheer Fleming, F, St. Joseph’s — Consensus: 25. YODA: 15 — Long, agile, productive with good shooting on twos and threes. The numbers suggests he defends (1.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes). The biggest knocks: more turnovers than assists, meh free throw shooting, and he faced weaker competition.

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
St. Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming

• Bogojub Markovic, F, Mega Basket — Consensus: 34. YODA: 20. I don’t have length and athleticism scores (yet), but the production at age 20 in a strong international league looks good. He shoots well from deep, converts inside, rebounds, and even has some playmaking. Intriguing.
• Kobe Johnson, G, UCLA — Consensus: Undrafted. YODA: 39. Superb defender (3x conference All-Defense — in two different major conferences) with good-to-excellent non-scoring production. He even shot decently from three this season. Why isn’t he more highly regarded? Age (he’s already 22) and a reluctance to shoot (third lowest possession usage per 40 minutes among the 90+ prospects I’ve evaluated so far). Still, he has the profile of someone like Alex Caruso (if he hits his high end) or maybe Garrett Temple (low end). At least worth a look on a two-way.

I’ll stop there for today. More draft content coming.

Which prospects do you want to hear about?

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/15/24449343/identifies-six-intriguing-prospects-yoda-does

 

[Washington Wizards]

Recap: Mystics routed by Dream, 89-56

The Mystics were dominated in all phases of the game

Fresh off a dominant 37-point victory, the 4-6 Washington Mystics matched up with the surging 7-3 Atlanta Dream, who entered Sunday’s matinee winners of five of their last six contests. Atlanta continued its hot streak at CareFirst Arena, defeating the Mystics 89-56.

After an evenly matched first quarter saw Atlanta take a 16-13 advantage into the second frame, Allisha Gray took over, scoring 19 first-half points on 6-for-8 shooting to give her squad a 45-34 advantage at the break. Washington sported a balanced offensive attack in the first half, led by Sonia Citron’s eight points.

It was all Atlanta out of the locker rooms, as the Dream embarked on 16-0 burst to begin the third quarter and break the game open. The Mystics were held scoreless through the four minutes and 44 seconds of the frame, struggling to generate any offense against the Dream’s stout defense before Shakira Austin broke the drought with an and-1 layup.

Washington entered the fourth quarter trailing 68-44 as they stared down a 4-7 record. The sides traded buckets until the clock ran out, as the Dream came into CareFirst Arena and dominated the Mystics, 89-56.

Gray finished with a game-high 32 points on 10-for-14 shooting. Citron led Washington with 10 points but was a -34.

The Mystics return to action against the Chicago Sky at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wintrust Arena.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/15/24449763/washington-mystics-atlanta-dream-wnba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Mystics face Sky on Tuesday

The Mystics are coming off a 33-point loss

The Washington Mystics will face the Chicago Sky at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s the preview:

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Game Info​

When: Tuesday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois

How to Watch: Monumental

Injuries​

Mystics: Georgia Amoore (Out)

Sky: Moriah Jefferson, Courtney Vandersloot (Out)

Pregame notes​

After earning a 37-point victory over the Connecticut Sun, the Washington Mystics received a taste of their own medicine on Sunday, losing by 33 points at home to the Atlanta Dream. Washington struggled on both ends, failing to generate much offense, especially in the third quarter when they were held scoreless for the first four minutes and 44 seconds of the frame.

Despite a shaky start to the 2025 campaign, the Chicago Sky earned a road victory over the Sun on Sunday. Angel Reese tallied her first-career triple-double, becoming the second-youngest player in WNBA history to secure a triple-double (only Caitlin Clark tallied a triple-double at a younger age).

After a poor showing on the glass against Atlanta, Washington will have its hands full against Chicago’s frontcourt of Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

The Mystics’ young frontcourt trio of Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen and Aaliyah Edwards against Chicago’s pairing of Reese and Cardoso presents a fun matchup on Tuesday night in Chicago between two young teams trying to figure it out in the early part of the 2025 season.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/16/24450262/washington-mystics-chicago-sky-wnba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

Report: Wizards looking to trade Smart

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards guard doesn’t have many suitors yet.

The Washington Wizards are looking to trade guard Marcus Smart, according to Hardwood Paroxysm. Here is the snippet from that post:

The Wizards would like to move Marcus Smart to a contender, but there’s been little interest so far. He might be one of the guys moved in the latter days of free agency after teams strike out on other targets.

Smart averaged 9.0 points per game in appearances for the Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024-25 season. As a 31 year old guard who has spent most of his career with the Boston Celtics, Smart would likely fit best with a contending team as a guard off the bench. But if teams aren’t looking to get him right now, Washington will probably not be more active with him until early July when players start switching teams in free agency.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/17/24450957/washington-wizards-marcus-smart-nba-trade-rumors

 

[Washington Wizards]

One Mystics draft pick will be in Women’s EuroBasket 2025

Nastja Claessens will represent Belgium who is looking to defend their Gold Medal after winning Women’s EuroBasket 2023.

The Washington Mystics will not see any players go to FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 this year. But one of their recent draft picks will be. Nastja Claessens was the 30th overall pick by the Mystics in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Claessens has been a draft-and-stash for Washington so far, but she was part of the Belgium women’s national basketball team for their 2024 Olympics appearance in Paris, France and will do so again in 2025 for Women’s EuroBasket.

Belgium enters Women’s EuroBasket 2025 as reigning champions, with high expectations to repeat after their dominant run in 2023. Though veteran leaders like former Mystics star Emma Meesseman remain the cornerstone of the squad and former Mystics (and now Golden State Valkyries) guard Julie Vanloo also headline the Cats’ starpower, the emergence of younger players like Claessens offers a glimpse of the team’s future. At just 20 years old, the 6’1 forward has already earned international experience and is poised to contribute valuable minutes off the bench for the Cats.

Her selection to the final 12-player roster signals confidence from Cats head coach Mike Thibault (yes, the best head coach in Mystics franchise history) and his staff. So even though Claessens isn’t in a Mystics or WNBA jersey yet, it will be interesting to see how she does in Women’s EuroBasket.

I won’t be writing much on the Cats’ Women’s EuroBasket run because no current Mystics players will be there. But this is still a tournament I’ll be keeping an eye on.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ens-washington-mystics-womens-eurobasket-2025

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Mystics play Dream in Atlanta

Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

The Mystics are creeping toward .500 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

The Washington Mystics are headed to Atlanta to face off against the Dream tomorrow night. I’ve got you covered with the preview for the game.

Game Info​

When: Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Where: The Gateway Center in Atlanta, Georgia

How to watch: ION

Injury Report​

Mystics: Georgia Amoore is OUT after suffering a torn ACL in the preseason.

Dream: Atlanta’s injury report is clean

Game Notes and More​

• The Dream are a surprising 8-4 behind a career year from Allisha Gray. Gray is averaging 20.4 points per game, good for sixth-best in the NBA.
• Gray is one spot behind Washington’s Brittney Sykes on the scoring leaderboard. Sykes’ 20.5 points per game game mark is by far a career high.
• The Mystics are 5-7 and sitting in playoff positioning at the moment. It would be quite difficult for them not to make the playoffs this season given how putrid the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings have all been. Those three teams are a combined 7-29.
• Kiki Iriafen will likely miss out on Rookie of the Year honors to Paige Bueckers, but she is well deserving of the honor and has a chance to crack the All-Star team this season.

Kiki Iriafen tonight

• 20 points
• 9 rebounds
• 9/11 FG
• 27 minutes played

pic.twitter.com/du7SmcvaJa

— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) June 4, 2025​

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/19/24452149/washington-mystics-atlanta-dream-wnba-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

WNBA All-Star 2025: Kiki Iriafen makes Top 10 in first returns

Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Brittney Sykes and Sonia Citron also made the Top 40 in first returns.

The first round of WNBA All-Star fan voting is in, and the Washington Mystics have something to celebrate. Rookie forward Kiki Iriafen came in at No. 10 overall among frontcourt players, a stunning debut for the first-year standout who has quickly become a key contributor for D.C. She earned over 213,000 votes—putting her ahead of established veterans and solidifying her early case for an All-Star selection.

But Iriafen isn’t the only Mystic earning fan attention. Teammates Brittney Sykes (28th) and rookie Sonia Citron (35th) also cracked the top 40 in total votes. Sykes, one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, continues to draw praise for her leadership on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Citron has made an instant impact with her high-IQ play and versatility, helping the Mystics stay competitive through a rebuilding season.

As expected, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever leads all vote-getters with 515,993 votes, far ahead of the pack. Napheesa Collier, Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart round out the top five—no surprises there. But the presence of a Mystics rookie in the top 10 is a signal that D.C.’s youth movement is resonating with fans beyond just the local area.

Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of All-Star starter selections, with WNBA players and media each contributing 25 percent in the “WNBA Electoral College”. This is done, partly to avoid fan favorites who are otherwise ... mediocre players ... from being in the All-Star Game. Given Iriafen’s play this season, it’s a toss up as to whether she will earn an All-Star appearance as a rookie given how good frontcourt stars are in the WNBA, but it’s possible.

I don’t see Citron making the All-Star Game due to the talent level of guards in the WNBA —and this is with Citron playing at a high level itslef. And Sykes should be on track to make the team as a reserve, even if she doesn’t have fan voting power.

Anyway, Voting closes on June 28, with two double-vote days remaining on June 21 and June 27.

For the Mystics, the takeaway is clear: despite a rebuilding season, the team’s future is bright due to their rookie production and Sykes leading as a veteran star. The All-Star Game itself is on Saturday, July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/myst...sonia-citron-washingotn-mystics-first-returns

 

[Washington Wizards]

The Wizards get Jeremiah Fears, Thomas Sorber, and Alex Toohey in mock draft

Jeremiah Fears celebrating a plau against Georgia. | Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

During a live mock draft podcast, the panel selected these three talented young prospects for Washington

During yesterday's live mock draft, draft analyst Ersin Demir, Kevin Broom, and I alternated picks for other teams but collaborated and tried to reach a consensus for each of the Wizards picks. For full break down of each selection in the top 40 and the ensuing deliberations, tune into the full podcast. Here, I'll just state who we decided between at each pick and who we ultimately went with.

The full draft order is down below for you to see who was already off the board at each pick. Each time the Wizards were set to pick, each of us gave our top three available options to see if we had any shared names to pick between as a way to help find a consensus.

For the 6th pick, Broom had Ace Bailey, Noa Essengue, and Jeremiah Fears atop his board. Demir had Fears, Derik Queen, and Khaman Maluach. I had Bailey, Fears, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Bailey got two first place votes so that made him one of the two finalists. But we ultimately went with Fears because he was the only name near the top of all three boards at the time.

At 18, Demir's top three were Joan Beringer, Nique Clifford, and Thomas Sorber. Broom had Jase Richardson as his best available but didn't think he made sense after selecting Fears. So his next three were Adou Thiero, Bogoljub Markovic, and Drake Powell. My list was Sorber, Liam McNeeley, and Will Riley. Because Demir and I both had Sorber and he was in the next tier of players for Broom, we went with him for Washington with their second pick.

Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Thomas Sorber dunking against Mount St. Mary’s

With the 40 pick, Demir had Alex Toohey, Broom had Alijah Martin, and I had Rocco Zikarsky. Toohey was in the next few slots for both Broom and I as well so we felt good going that route as it also brought some additional positional versatility to the draft.

Did we make the right calls? Let us know in the comments who you would have taken give who was still available at each spot.

Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Alex Toohey shooting while playing for the Sydney Kings

Draft selections​

1) Cooper Flagg

2) Dylan Harper

3) Tre Johnson

4) Kon Knueppel

5) VJ Edgecombe

6) Jeremiah Fears

7) Ace Bailey

8) Noa Essengue

9) Derik Queen

10) Carter Bryant

11) Asa Newell

12) Khaman Maluach

13) Cedric Coward

14) Rasheer Fleming

15) Kasparas Jakucionis

16) Egor Demin

17) Collin Murray-Boyles

18) Thomas Sorber

19) Jase Richardson

20) Nolan Traore

21) Adou Thiero

22) Danny Wolf

23) Will Riley

24) Drake Powell

25) Nique Clifford

26) Noah Penda

27) Walter Clayton Jr.

28) Liam McNeeley

29) Ryan Kalkbrenner

30) Bogoljub Markovic

31) Hugo Gonzalez

32) Maxime Raynaud

33) Johni Broome

34) Ben Saraf

35) Yanic Konan Niederhauser

36) Sion James

37) Kam Jones

38) Javon Small

39) Mouhamed Faye

40) Alex Toohey

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ears-thomas-sorber-alex-toohey-nba-mock-draft

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Mystics face Wings on Sunday

The Mystics have yet to pay the Wings this season

The Washington Mystics will face the Dallas Wings at 3 p.m. Sunday. Here’s the preview:

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Game Info​

When: Sunday, June 22, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: CareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C.

How to Watch: Monumental

Injuries​

Mystics: Georgia Amoore (Out)

Wings: Maddy Siegrist, Luisa Geiselsoder, Tyasha Harris, Teaira McCowan (Out)

Pregame notes​

The Washington Mystics return home after splitting a brief two-game road trip, which included a 79-72 win over the Chicago Sky followed by a narrow 92-91 loss to the Atlanta Dream. The Mystics enter Sunday’s matinee at 5-8, which ranks ninth in the WNBA standings.

After a 1-12 start to the 2025 campaign, Dallas has picked up some momentum, winning its last two contests against Golden State and Connecticut. Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has excelled to begin her career. The UConn product is averaging 18.0 points per game, which ranks 11th in the WNBA, as well as 5.8 assists per contest, which ranks fifth.

Washington has its own scorer in Brittany Sykes, whose 20.6 points per game ranks fifth in the league. Sykes and the Mystics will look to use the home crowd to get back on track against Dallas on Sunday.

With 6-foot-8 Teiera McCowan listed as out, Washington could domiante the paint. Second-year forward Shakira Austin is coming off her best game of the season — a 28-point, 10 rebound showing in Atlanta. Look for Austin, Aaliyah Edwards and Kiki Iriafen to command the paint against the Wings on Sunday.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/21/24453255/washington-mystics-dallas-wings-wnba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

Join us for a live NBA Draft Show on draft night

The Wizards receiving the 6th pick during the draft lottery

We'll provide real-time analysis of each pick and what they mean for the Wizards

Join Kevin Broom and I for a live Bleav in Wizards during the first round of the NBA Draft! We’ve got some special guests lined up to jump on and weigh in on the Wizards picks throughout the show. Coverage will start at 7:50 p.m. EST on Wednesday, 6/25, and run through the first round.

Live draft show on 6/25 at 7:50 p.m. EST

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...miah-fears-ace-bailey-tre-johnson-derik-queen

 

[Washington Wizards]

Report: Middleton picks up $33.3M player option

Middleton, 33, average 10.7 points with Washington last season

Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton has exercised his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Washington Wizards three-time NBA All-Star Khris Middleton has picked up his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/skVrixdlA5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2025​

Middleton, 33, is a three-time All-Star who was traded to the Wizards in February as part of the Kyle Kuzma trade. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 10.7 points per game across 14 appearances with Washington.

The Wizards went an improved 6-8 in games Middleton played, showcasing the positive affect the veteran had on Washington’s young group.

Middleton picking up his player option was an expected move, considering his injury-riddled past would’ve made it difficult to attract that type of money on the open market.

The former NBA Champion will likely start for the Wizards next season, serving as a veteran mentor for Washington’s core of young talent, which includes Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, AJ Johnson and whoever they select in this year’s draft.

Here’s some additional thoughts on Middleton exercising his player option:

Thoughts on Middleton picking up his option:

• Played well in D.C. post-deadline

• Has some injury concerns but showed he still has game

• Washington went an improved 6-8 with Middleton in the lineup

• Will serve as a veteran to the young core next season, likely starts.

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) June 23, 2025​

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...izards-khris-middleton-picks-up-player-option

 

[Washington Wizards]

Recap: Mystics beat Lynx, 68-64

Shakira Austin continued to lead the way for Washington, scoring 19 points.

The Washington Mystics got back in the win column—and they earned this one. Washington held off the Minnesota Lynx 68-64 on Tuesday night, grinding out a defensive battle behind big performances from Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen and Sug Sutton.

Austin anchored the paint on both ends, setting the tone with physicality and making life difficult for Minnesota’s frontcourt, scoring 19 points. Iriafen adied 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sutton kept the Mystics organized throughout, adding 12 points of her own.

Minnesota led 63-62 with just over three minutes to play, but Washington clamped down. A late shot from Sutton helped seal it with second left to play, and Washington’s defense held Minnesota scoreless for nearly the entire final three minutes.

Alanna Smith led the way for the Lynx with 26 points.

The Mystics’ next game is on Thursday when they play the Las Vegas Aces on the road. Tip off is at 10 p.m. ET. See you then.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/myst...ington-mystics-minnesota-lynx-wnba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Draft 2025: Your tracker tonight on whom the Wizards could pick tonight

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

Watch the 2025 NBA Draft with us!

The 2025 NBA Draft is tonight at 8 p.m. ET. You can watch it on ESPN and ABC (WJLA-TV in the D.C. area).

You can also join Kevin Broom on for a Wizards-centric watch party on Playback for tonight’s game. It will be simulcast with our own Matt Modderno who also hosts the Bleav in Wizards podcast.

What are the Wizards’ chances of … winning it all?​

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA championship, their second in franchise history, having last won in 1979 when they defeated the Washington Wizards. I know both teams had different names in 1979, and the Thunder were in a different city then. But the Sonics' history is the Thunder's history, at least officially.

Anyway, since the Wizards are picking at No. 6 in the draft (at least as of the time I’m writing this), you and I both can reason that their odds of winning the 2026 NBA championship are low.

I’m actually required to write about this in some capacity, so don’t laugh at me here. But the Wizards have +50000 odds when it comes to their chances of winning it all. So should Jordan Poole, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly take Washington to the promised land next June, you could be set for life, provided that you put down a fair amount of money, meaning at least a couple thousand dollars!

Mock Drafts​

Check out these drafts:

• ESPN
• CBS Sports
• NBADraft.net
• SB Nation
• One of ours too!

Tracker on who the Wizards pick​

So here are the players whom the Wizards pick or have selected. Things can change quick, but here are the picks they have. We will fill this up as players are selected, and/or if trades are made:

• No. 6: Tre Johnson, Texas
• No. 18: Walter Clayton, Jr., Florida (will be traded to the Utah Jazz)
• No. 21: Will Riley, Illinois (drafted by the Jazz, will be traded to the Wizards
• No. 40: This pick was reportedly traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a swap that involved Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey going to New Orleans in exchange for CJ McCullom and Kelly Olynyk. However, it’s possible that this deal isn’t finalized until July when the free agency party resolves itself. If this pick is officially done by the Wizards, it’s likely on behalf of the Pelicans.
• No. 43: This pick is from the Utah Jazz as a result of the Clayton-for- trade.

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There is still a lot things that can happen before the 2025 NBA Draft and it’s just one day away. What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comments below.

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Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/6/25/24455310/nba-draft-2025-washington-wizards-tracker-picks