Wizards overhaul roster, load up on draft picks in trade deadline frenzy

The Washington Wizards weren’t shy ahead of Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline. General manager Will Dawkins was wheeling and dealing, shipping out veterans on expiring contracts in exchange for promising young prospects and future draft picks. 

After two days of trades, the Wizards roster has been overhauled. 

On Thursday, the franchise added guard Marcus Smart, forward Alex Len, guard Colby Jones and a 2025 first-round pick in a multi-team trade featuring the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings.

Washington was primarily a salary-absorbing third party in the trade, which sent guard Jake LaRavia to Sacramento in exchange for a second-round pick. The Grizzlies also acquired guard Johnny Davis and forward Marvin Bagley III — a pair of pending free agents — from the Wizards.

Earlier in the day, Dawkins sent four second-round picks and guard Jared Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for journeyman guard Reggie Jackson and a first-rounder in the 2026 draft.

In the exchange with Philadelphia, Washington will gain the least favorable of three first-round picks — a selection owned by the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers or Oklahoma City Thunder, depending on next season’s standings. 

The Wizards had already dealt veterans Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Kuzma to Sacramento and Milwaukee, respectively, on Wednesday. In return, Washington added rookie guard A.J. Johnson, All-Star forward Khris Middleton and a slew of draft picks. 

But newly acquired players like Smart, Len and Middleton might not enjoy long stints in the District. 

The Wizards already waived Sidy Cissoko, who they acquired through the first trade with Sacramento on Wednesday. Though the 20-year-old aligns with Washington’s future-focused timeline, it wasn’t enough to keep him on the roster.

Cissoko averaged just 2.3 points per game during limited playing time in two years with the San Antonio Spurs, though he posted 13 points per game in three G League appearances this season. 

Jackson was next in line. The Wizards cut him just minutes before the trade deadline after they struggled to find a trade partner for the veteran, according to multiple reports.

Middleton could face a similar situation. The 32-year-old, who can opt into a $34 million player option this summer, could receive a buyout to join a more competitive roster ahead of a playoff run.

Smart and Len, who were add-ons in a trade that centered around an additional first-round pick, are also candidates to hit the open market. Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year is owed $21.6 million next season, while Len, who played in college at Maryland, is slated to become a free agent. 

The week’s moves echoed what Dawkins told reporters and fans before the season: this is a rebuilding franchise.

In less than two years with the franchise, Dawkins has focused on stripping the roster for parts. It began in the summer of 2023 when they urged Bradley Beal to waive his no-trade clause and shipped him to the Phoenix Suns.

It continued in 2024 when the team traded promising forward Deni Avdija and stalwart center Daniel Gafford for draft picks. With the trade deadline in the books, the 2025 plan looks similar.

“There’s the deconstruction phase. There’s the laying the foundation phase. There’s the building it back up, and then there’s fortifying what you build,” Dawkins said before the season. “We’re still focused on deconstructing and laying that foundation.”

After a flurry of moves, the Wizards will enter the second half of the season with a bevy of draft capital to fortify a foundation. Johnson joins a youth movement in Washington that already featured rookies Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington alongside second-year star Bilal Coulibaly. 

The 9-41 squad, which has featured plenty of playing time for the youngsters, carried a three-game winning streak through the trade deadline. 

Coulibaly recorded his first career triple-double during Wednesday’s 119-102 win against the Brooklyn Nets. Carrington recorded his first double-double on points and assists while George drained five three-pointers in the same game. 

“I’ve been saying it: we’ve got a great young core,” Coulibaly said Wednesday. “Everybody can do anything, so it’s just easy to play with those guys. … They’re learning, working every day.”

Even players who are on their way out said they’re eager to watch the franchise step forward into a bright future. 

“No matter where I go, I’ll be keeping an eye on this team, the organization, and the city,” Kuzma wrote in a farewell letter to fans. “Nothing but love.”