Washington Wizards (2025-26)

[imref]

Another Big Mac!!

[imref]

ESPN says Trae Young has told the Hawks that his preferred destination is the Wizards.

Not sure why the Wizards would want him. He has a player option for next year at $49M though the Wizards have the space. Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum are both inactives for tonight and the speculation is that both of them would go to Atlanta as they are both on expiring contracts.

[HalfSmokes]

I’d take him in return for picks, but not play him. If they give up picks for him, that’s Ted reminding everyone that he’s a terrible owner

[Natsinpwc]

If I’m not mistaken some of the high potential draft picks this year are point guards.  So I guess you would see what he does next year and then let him go. But need to get picks back and not give them up.

[HalfSmokes]

If I’m not mistaken some of the high potential draft picks this year are point guards.  So I guess you would see what he does next year and then let him go. But need to get picks back and not give them up.

Personally I’d bench him. DNPs as far as the eye can see to hopefully get him not to exercise the option

[imref]

Per ESPN: Young to DC for Kispert and McCollum.

[HalfSmokes]

We’re clogging the cap for an extra year with no draft compensation? I’m waiting to hear that Ted’s gone full retard and extended him

[Natsinpwc]

Disappointed they didn’t get a draft pick but this offseason was not going to bring any major free agent anyway and still too early to compete.  Let’s hope he sits out most of this season and they get a lottery pick.  And then see how he fits next year.  I have a hard time seeing the guys running this team giving him a big deal. Unless Ted steps in.  Seems more likely a trade to somewhere else next trade deadline.

[Natsinpwc]

The Wiz won’t be anywhere near the cap next year.  Even paying Trae $50 million.   

https://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/teams/

[HalfSmokes]

The Wiz won’t be anywhere near the cap next year.  Even paying Trae $50 million.   

https://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/teams/

That space has value to apron teams shedding salary. I’d rather take overpaid dead weight with picks attached than an un-tradable high usage guard

[HalfSmokes]

Disappointed they didn’t get a draft pick but this offseason was not going to bring any major free agent anyway and still too early to compete.  Let’s hope he sits out most of this season and they get a lottery pick.  And then see how he fits next year.  I have a hard time seeing the guys running this team giving him a big deal. Unless Ted steps in.  Seems more likely a trade to somewhere else next trade deadline.

I have a hard time seeing a competent front office trading for him in the first place (there is a reason no other team were interested). This reeks of Ted

[imref]

The Wizards’ director of player personnel drafted Young when he was in Atlanta’s front office.

So the wizards get a top-level offensive player for pretty much nothing. No complaints on this one.

[HalfSmokes]

The Wizards’ director of player personnel drafted Young when he was in Atlanta’s front office.

So the wizards get a top-level offensive player for pretty much nothing. No complaints on this one.

Top level? By what measure? He has been good for a very long time. He’s also the most huntable player on defense

[Natsinpwc]

I have a hard time seeing a competent front office trading for him in the first place (there is a reason no other team were interested). This reeks of Ted

The other teams contending don’t have cap room.  Especially next year when his option kicks in. To be fair.  He wants the Wizards to try and redeem his reputation. He could be fun to watch in pick and roll with Sarr.

[imref]

Top level? By what measure? He has been good for a very long time. He’s also the most huntable player on defense

Uh, he led the league in assists per game and in total assists last year and was one of the top scoring PGs.

And yes, he sucks on defense.

[Natsinpwc]

One analysis. Does note that they still have $47 million in cap space next year.

https://www.bulletsforever.com/washington-wizards-team-analysis/67335/why-adding-trae-young-makes-sense-for-the-wizards

I think the biggest danger is losing a top pick this year.  Need to be cautious with his injury.  I am sure Trae doesn’t want to miss his next payday and agrees. 

[imref]

One analysis. Does note that they still have $47 million in cap space next year.

https://www.bulletsforever.com/washington-wizards-team-analysis/67335/why-adding-trae-young-makes-sense-for-the-wizards

I think the biggest danger is losing a top pick this year.  Need to be cautious with his injury.  I am sure Trae doesn’t want to miss his next payday and agrees. 

Yeah, I doubt we see much of him this season unless somehow the Wizards keep playing better (9-11 in their last 20, 5-3 in their last 8 )

[JCA-CrystalCity]

One analysis. Does note that they still have $47 million in cap space next year.

https://www.bulletsforever.com/washington-wizards-team-analysis/67335/why-adding-trae-young-makes-sense-for-the-wizards

I think the biggest danger is losing a top pick this year.  Need to be cautious with his injury.  I am sure Trae doesn’t want to miss his next payday and agrees. 

Top pick was a long shot. I don't watch the Wizards enough to have a big insight but they like Johnson and have Sarr so they have a few nice pieces. NBA studio  crew said this is Johnson's team now and that Young wanted to come to DC.

[imref]

Top pick was a long shot. I don't watch the Wizards enough to have a big insight but they like Johnson and have Sarr so they have a few nice pieces. NBA studio  crew said this is Johnson's team now and that Young wanted to come to DC.

The Hawks were 2-8 with Young playing this year and >.500 with him out. Johnson is the guy now.

The Athletic is saying it's doubtful that Young plays much, if at all, this season given injuries and the Wizards not wanting to lose their pick to the Knicks.

[1995hoo]

What I don’t understand is why a player would want to be traded to Washington, as reports say he did. Of all the franchises with a long history of futility. They’ve won one division title since 1980.

[HalfSmokes]

What I don’t understand is why a player would want to be traded to Washington, as reports say he did. Of all the franchises with a long history of futility. They’ve won one division title since 1980.

No one else wanted him

[imref]

What I don’t understand is why a player would want to be traded to Washington, as reports say he did. Of all the franchises with a long history of futility. They’ve won one division title since 1980.

past relationship with folks in the front office, and we're a young team in desperate need of a PG.

[nats2playoffs]

past relationship with folks in the front office, and we're a young team in desperate need of a PG.

Yeah, I doubt we see much of him this season unless somehow the Wizards keep playing better (9-11 in their last 20, 5-3 in their last 8 )

https://www.si.com/nba/wizards/onsi/washington-wizards-news/washington-wizards-brian-keefe-earning-trust-successful-stretch

...[Coach] Keefe is reiterating the importance of starting with defense before and after every game. ...His philosophies are backed up in some of the chances that the reinvigorated Wizards have experienced in recent weeks. They were operating as one of the premier offenses from a pace standpoint, running in transition whenever they could, but their sudden decision to slow down and provide more room for defense to set up has manifested in an approach that lends itself to making more defensive disruptions.

Even the all-bench lineups, which Keefe's begun turning to as early as the first quarter of some of these recent outings, have served as auditions for some of the fringe pieces to make their cases as fixtures of the lineup. Rookie creator Will Riley has clearly passed the sniff test, taking all of Kispert's minutes as the wing recovers from a finger injury, while AJ Johnson's recently superseded Malaki Branham as the last rotational guard off of the bench.

Above all, Wizards fans have finally seen some change to how some of the prized pieces were being used. Kyshawn George is at his best as a point-forward, so he's been trusted as the primary earlier and earlier into these games. Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson are better-off as on-ball threats, ending several ugly stints as off-ball contributors in trusting the young guards to playmake and score in taking control of their own rhythm.

After several years of complaining about the Wizards' endless stream of losing, the most recent uninspiring chapter in the annals of one of the most disappointing North American sports franchises, the fans have an all-new situation to wrap their heads around...
 
I wasn't paying attention at all, until kids told me about the Big Mac discount for winning games. They don't care about the team. They just want the food!

[imref]

Kind of interesting to see what became of Bradley Beal:

Beal -> Chris Paul -> Jordan Poole -> CJ McCollum -> Trae Young

And they've added a ton of draft picks / swaps. (Yes, other players got traded as well). They also used some Beal trade assets to move up to get Bilal Coulibaly

On the flip-side, the Hawks turned Luka Doncic into CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

[HalfSmokes]

Kind of interesting to see what became of Bradley Beal:

Beal -> Chris Paul -> Jordan Poole -> CJ McCollum -> Trae Young

And they've added a ton of draft picks / swaps. (Yes, other players got traded as well). They also used some Beal trade assets to move up to get Bilal Coulibaly

On the flip-side, the Hawks turned Luka Doncic into CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

None of the swaps will materialize- they were just there to make it look like we got something for Beal