The Washington Wizards have made it clear over the last couple of seasons that when it comes to making a splash on the trade market, they won't hesitate to make a move if it makes sense.
In recent days, it was revealed that the Wizards would have a level of interest in Kevin Durant this offseason if the Houston Rockets made the star forward available for trade.
For the majority of the fanbase, the possibility of the D.C. native returning to the DMV for a run with the Wizards is a dream come true, even after years of rejection left many upset.
And while there's no way to know just how serious Washington is about landing Durant this offseason, it feels like the latest comments from general manager Will Dawkins suggest that another blockbuster trade this offseason may not be likely.
Wizards won't skip any steps in their rebuild
It's easy to assume the Wizards will continue to be aggressive on the trade front, especially after the bold in-season trades to land Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Nonetheless, with Dawkins recently claiming that the Wizards won't be skipping any steps in their rebuild, it's safe to wonder if the team will actually make the moves to compete right now, or if they'll take the patient approach and determine next steps after viewing their current roster alongside the superstar duo of AD and Young.
Will Dawkins said the Wizards won’t skip any steps in their rebuild. He knows the team isn’t ready to win a title just yet.
— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) April 29, 2026
Anthony Davis’ comments indicate he knows that as well.
AD’s issue: His primary goal of winning a title in 2026-27 might not be Washington’s primary goal. pic.twitter.com/mJF4GKaZ3o
All that to say, if the Wizards are dealt a curveball by Davis, possibly making it clear that he's not willing to play the long game in Washington, it wouldn't make any sense for the Wizards to make a swing for a 37-year-old veteran, no matter how good he is.
Wizards won't go all in even if they see a window
Washington could overachieve next season, and that would be a welcome surprise for a fanbase who's patiently waited for their team to compete in the Eastern Conference.
However, even if they do overachieve, it won't lead to the team becoming aggressive to win right away, especially if it leads to them skipping steps in the rebuild.
The Wizards plan to stay the course and play the long game, even if that means being a play-in team for the next couple of seasons.
Although it may not be what fans want to hear, it's probably for the best that the team moves forward being cautiously optimistic about what they've built.
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