For the second offseason in a row, the Washington Wizards made a big move that has altered their point guard position. Last offseason, the Wizards John Wall traded to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook. After just one season, Russell Westbrook is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, and former Brooklyn Net Spencer Dinwiddie is on his way to Washington.
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) August 4, 2021
We knew Westbrook was heading out long before we knew Dinwiddie was coming to D.C. The terms of the trade with the Lakers, which netted the Wizards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell, were announced on draft night. They weren’t official, though, until they were folded into the five-team deal that sent Dinwiddie to the Wizards via sign-and-trade for three years and $62 million.
These moves took a while. It was six days after the draft night announcement of Westbrook’s departure and over 36 hours after the first Woj bomb linking Dinwiddie to the Wizards before this deal became official. But with so many moving parts, it’s no surprise that things took so long.
After the trade, the Wizards also re-signed Raul Neto, who will resume his backup point guard duties. This Wizards team looks a lot different than it did just one week ago. New head coach Wes Unseld Jr. does not have a completely clean slate, but it’s pretty close to a fresh start in his first season. Here’s how I see the potential depth chart after the Dinwiddie trade.
Updated Washington Wizards Depth Chart
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie, Raul Neto, Aaron Holiday
SG: Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Caleb Homesley
SF: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma
PF: Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans, Isaiah Todd, Anthony Gill
C: Daniel Gafford, Montrezl Harrell, Thomas Bryant (injured)
It’s unclear exactly how he will use some of the tweeners on the roster such as Deni Avdija, KCP, Corey Kispert, and Kuzma. Even after adding Neto to bolster the guard rotation, the Wizards could still use a little roster balancing. They were once wing deficient. Now they have an abundance. They also have a slight wealth of riches at the center position. Having two healthy centers while Bryant recovers and returns from his ACL injury will be key, but if/when he does return to the court, it’ll be a crowded one. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more movement from the Wizards before the season begins.