The Washington Wizards had an active trade deadline as they continue to focus on their rebuild.
Washington moved off veterans Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas, promising guard Jared Butler, forward Patrick Baldwin, Jr. and a collection of second-round picks in exchange for former NBA champion Khris Middleton, 2024 first round pick AJ Johnson, and a number of draft picks, including two-first round picks, and the possibility of a third via a “soft swap” with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Wizards also made a last-minute move for former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, who could slot in as another new veteran presence, though his status with the Wizards remains unclear. Sidy Cissoko and Reggie Jackson were also brought in but have already been waived.
With two prominent members of the roster and a third who was intermittently one as well, 9-41 Washington’s rotation will have to be reshuffled down the stretch of the season.
Point Guard: Bub Carrington
Though Carrington has started 35 of his 49 games played this season, he came off the bench for five consecutive games before Wednesday’s contest in Brooklyn. With Kuzma and Valanciunas out of town, he returned to the starting five. And with Washington certainly focused on its youth movement for the latter portion of the season, he figures to stay there.
Like many of his fellow young Wizards, Carrington ranks toward the bottom of the league in true shooting percentage, at 49.8% for the season.
Upping the rookie’s efficiency and getting him more comfortable running the offense will be among the top goals for Washington in their final 32 games of the season. Wednesday was a good start, as the late lottery pick finished with 16 points on 5-8 shooting and a career-best 10 assists in the team’s third consecutive win.
Shooting Guard: Jordan Poole
Poole has done a remarkable job rehabilitating his trade value from its nadir at this time last year, but Washington was nonetheless unwilling to deal the guard or unable to find a suitable move for him.
Poole has quietly put together a solid bounce-back season for the Wizards this season, with both his counting stats and efficiency (20.3 / 3.1 / 4.8 on 57.4% true shooting) tracking quite closely to his final season in Golden State (20.4 / 2.7 / 4.5 on 57.3% true shooting). The guard ranks sixth in the league in three-pointers made per game.
If the Wizards elect to embrace the tank even more strongly down the stretch, Poole could sit out more games, but until then he will likely keep up his role of starting two guard and go-to scorer.
Small Forward: Bilal Coulibaly
The new-look Wizards’ first game resulted in the second-year Frenchman’s first career-triple double, as he finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Though it has certainly been a bumpy ride, Coulibably has flashed more potential than any other of the Wizards’ young pieces.
Getting him more comfortable as both a playmaker and a play-finisher on the offensive end should be one of the organization’s central goals over the next couple of months. He needs to improve on his near-league-worst 28.2% from downtown.
Coulibaly has the ability to be a two-way menace, and possibly to be an on ball-threat as well. Allowing him to explore his game and take on a larger offensive burden should be easier for the team now that Kuzma has been traded.
Power Forward: Kyshawn George
George has experienced a rough rookie season in the nation’s capital. His shooting was his primary calling card as a prospect, but his 28.6% clip ranks 171st out of 174 qualified players, just one spot above Coulibaly.
As a result of these struggles, George had mostly been relegated to the bench, but he has recently reprised his role as a starter since late last month. During that time, he has shot better than 40% from downtown on over five attempts per game.
Since the Wizards have no real incentive to win games for the rest of the season, the team should focus on starting and featuring its young players, including George. Despite the addition of Middleton on Wednesday, George should keep his starting spot through the end of the season.
Center: Alex Sarr
Sarr has missed the past five games with an injury. When he returns, the number 2 overall pick will find virtually no competition at center after Valanciunas was moved shortly before the deadline.
Although the numbers do not necessarily bear it out, the Frenchman was showing increased signs of comfort on both sides of the ball in the month before being sidelined (Sarr is among the five Wizards — counting Kuzma — in the bottom 20 in the league among qualified players in true shooting %.)
Sarr needs to add more to his offensive arsenal beyond catch-and-shoot threes, and the last portion of the season should provide ample opportunity for him to do so.
Sixth man: Khris Middleton
Reports indicate that Washington plans on holding onto the three-time All-Star beyond the trade deadline. If the Wizards elect to play him, he should resume his role from Milwaukee as the sixth man. Middleton started only seven of 23 games he appeared in this season before this week’s move.
The 2021 champion seemed to be rounding into form in his final four games as a Buck, averaging nearly 16 points on better than 70% shooting. But he only played more than 30 minutes in one game this season.
That, in addition to the fact that the Wizards should be focusing on featuring their young players, means that he may be better suited to a bench role. The Wizards may also be extra careful in managing the 33-year-old’s health, in case they hope to rehab his value and move him at some point this summer or next season.
Middleton can provide occasional scoring punch, as well as solid basketball IQ and a veteran presence to a an exceptionally youthful Wizards roster, even if his playing time in Washington may be somewhat limited.
Key Bench Pieces
Malcolm Brogdon
Brogdon was widely expected to be available this week, but the deadline came and went went and he is still part of the Wizards’ roster. Brogdon has been a sturdying presence for the Wizards so far this season, with the team putting together a 6-15 record when he plays this season. That’s nothing to write home about, but it’s far better than the 3-26 record they have managed without him.
Much of what is true about Middleton also applies to Brogdon. He will be a useful veteran presence, both in terms of his production on court and his leadership off it. He may not see the court as much towards the end of the season if Washington decides to focus wholly on its young players. Brogdon is on an expiring contract, but the Wizards’ front office may be hoping to bring him back on a more team-friendly contract next summer.
Corey Kispert
Kispert has been a fairly forgotten piece this season. He signed a fairly team-friendly extension this season, but it remains unclear if the front office sees him as part of the franchise’s long-term future or as a potential trade piece down the line.
He has been a serviceable piece so far this season — and of the team’s most reliable players — averaging over 11 points in 26 minutes per game off the bench. He will likely maintain that level of playing time and productivity as a floor-spacer for this team.
Depth Pieces
Richaun Holmes will be the backup center behind Sarr with Valanciunas now playing in Sacramento.
AJ Johnson only appeared in 7 games as a Buck this season, playing 6.3 minutes per appearance. He was already seen as a reach and a raw prospect when Milwaukee took him at number 23 overall in this summer’s draft. Johnson’s role in the Wizards’ rotation is unclear, but he will certainly have a chance to prove himself in this young roster. He is the kind of player that it makes sense for Washington to take a chance on at this point in the rebuild.
The recent history of first-round picks traded before they finish their first season is not promising. None of the last three rookies to fit that description — Keon Johnson, R.J. Hampton or Landry Shamet — finished one full season with their second teams, according to Dan Feldman of Dunc’d on Prime.
Justin Champagnie has been in-and-out of Washington’s rotation so far this year, and has had stretches of impressive productivity. He will likely be the fourth forward in the rotation behind Coulibaly, George, and Middleton, as he works to a longer term contract.
With three rotation pieces out the door potentially only being replaced by one (Middleton), and Tristan Vukcevic may have a chance to play a little bit more over the last two months of the season. Anthony Gill will likely continue to fill in as needed as a deep reserve.