Washington Wizards

Amid yet another disappointing season for the Washington Wizards, 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr has been one of the few bright spots, and he feels he's done enough to earn consideration for NBA Rookie of the Year.

"I definitely belong in that conversation," Sarr told Ben Golliver of the Washington Post (h/t HoopsHype). "That’s not up to me. Everything is out there: the games and the stats. We’ll see what happens at the end. I’ve been constantly improving through the season, and I’m finishing out strong, trying to keep building that momentum."

Sarr has played 63 games this season and averages 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He ranks seventh in the NBA with 1.5 blocks per game.

After a slow start to the year, Sarr showed improvement recently. In March, he averaged 16.4 points and surpassed the 20-point mark six times, including a career-high 34-point performance in a surprising upset win over the Denver Nuggets.

The Wizards have the second-worst record in the NBA and rank last in the Eastern Conference at 17-61. Washington will be up against the Utah Jazz (16-63) in the NBA lottery as it hopes to land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Sarr will certainly be hoping that the team can add more talent around him and emerge from the league's basement next year.

Former NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony wants to buy into Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent group of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

Anthony revealed that news during his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast before delving into some well-thought plans, specifically regarding the fan experience.

Melo wants in on the Wizards ownership group 👀

He's got a formula that will turn them up for a promising future 🫡 https://t.co/t9X4CEsCgH pic.twitter.com/q5jWGAIuJr

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) April 1, 2025

"I want to buy the Wizards. I would be a great owner," Anthony began.

"Former player. I understand players. I understand personnel, I understand being fatigued. I understand how to build teams, but I also understand what I don't understand. I know what I don't know. You also have to put people in those positions. President, GM, you put all the basketball acumen in those positions, and then you cover that with business model.

"And so now you create these levels. The business mind can never question the basketball mind. Right? But it has to be a connection between the two. Now the equity comes in, because now you gotta create these experiences, fan experience.

"A lot of owners don't put that work in to create fan experience. They hire somebody, go, 'tell me what to do, what's the in-game experience today? Hey, let's put [ex-NBA player and podcast co-host Rudy Gay] on the screen. It's like, let's get a halftime show.'

"This is how they still operate. Like, no, you gotta be, from the minute my fans walk down the block, getting two blocks away, you gonna have this full experience of being able to go into my arena.

"Also, you have to have the right personnel in there on the business side, how to do contracts, personnel, scouts. You need people who got eye-test tools. You would have to really tap into the actual community.

"It's like we try so change so much. Let's get back to bringing the players back, the ex-former player. Let's get back to having these experiences. Let's get back to have it opening night, free night with the fans. Like let's have these dinners, like we used to do all of that.

"We realized how the fans was actually able to experience us. You gotta get back into the community...

"Bring the fans to them, bring them to the practice facility, let them see open practice, let them sit there, let them have Wizards Day where the fans is free and you... players don't wanna go nowhere.

"You bring it to them, in a sense. You really gotta give back."

Billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs is looking to sell about 10 percent of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, or "roughly half of her full holdings," per sources to Ebon Novy-Williams and Scott Soshnick of Sportico on Jan. 12.

Novy-Williams and Soshnick said the talks were in "nascent stages," per sources.

"It’s unclear who might become a formal bidder, and too early to know how Monumental might be valued in a potential transaction."

Anthony's take is refreshing. He genuinely seems to care about the fans, their experiences and how they can improved. Anthony noted how team owners aren't as directly involved or seem almost apathetic toward the fan experience, which can come across as almost formulaic.

One example going against the grain recently can be found at Intuit Dome, with the Clippers' creation of the infamous Wall of fans.

Clippers fans at The Wall are literally putting up a sign for every second that Giannis Antetokounmpo takes to shoot free throws 😂 pic.twitter.com/HbEUWGzMpj

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 26, 2025

Ultimately, Anthony wants to buck the trend and start a new approach. Time will tell if 'Melo buys into the Wizards, but it's clear he could be a vibrant and young governor who creates a tremendously positive impact to the game.

Veteran guard Marcus Smart will have a new home for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday reported that the Washington Wizards are acquiring Marcus Smart and draft picks from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Marvin Bagley III and more. Bagley is making $12.5 million this season in the final year of his contract.

The Wizards are sending Marvin Bagley III to the Grizzlies as part of the deal, sources tell ESPN. Johnny Davis also sent to Memphis. https://t.co/QeEN5HCUGH

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025

With several moving pieces, here's a look at each team's updated rosters and salary cap following the deal.

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Memphis Grizzlies Depth Chart

PG: Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr.

SG: Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, Johnny Davis

SF: Jaylen Wells, Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson

PF: Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama

C: Zach Edey, Marvin Bagley III

Prior to the trade, Memphis had salary cap allocations totaling more than $170 million, per Spotrac.

Expiring contracts for both player sent to Memphis:

Marvin Bagley III: $12.5M

Johnny Davis: $5.3M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 6, 2025

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Washington Wizards Depth Chart

PG: Jordan Poole, Malcolm Brogdon

SG: Bilal Coulibaly, Marcus Smart

SF: Khris Middleton, Corey Kispert

PF: Kyshawn George, Justin Champagnie

C: Alex Sarr, Richaun Holmes

Prior to the trade, Washington had salary cap allocations totaling more than $209 million, per Spotrac.

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In 19 games this season, Bagley is averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. He was forced to miss time after suffering a knee sprain on Dec. 23 in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This is the second time Bagley has been traded in just over a year. The Wizards acquired him in January as part of a trade with the Detroit Pistons. The 25-year-old started 15 out of his 24 appearances in Washington during the 2023-24 campaign and averaged 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game. He shot 58.2 percent from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range.

While his time with the Wizards was limited, Bagley showed improvement from his run with the Pistons. In 26 games with 10 starts in Detroit prior to being traded, he saw an average of 18.4 minutes of action and posted 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, Bagley hasn't made the impact many expected he would following his dominant freshman season at Duke. His average of 14.9 points in his rookie season remains his career-high. He has been a serviceable big man with career averages of 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, though he's not much of a rim protector with just 0.6 blocks.

Still, Memphis saw enough to make a deal to acquire Bagley. He will be joining a Grizzlies team headlined by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies are hoping the addition of Bagley will help boost its chances of competing for a playoff spot this season.

As for the Wizards, they're getting a solid guard in Smart, though he has only played 19 games this season. The 30-year-old averaged just 8.7 points with the Grizzlies before being moved.

Jonas Valančiūnas is joining the Sacramento Kings for their push to the playoffs.

The Washington Wizards are trading Valančiūnas to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

ESPN's Bobby Marks provided more details:

Sacramento is using most of their $12.8M non-tax mid-level exception to acquire the $9.9M salary of Jonas Valanciunas.

Sources tell ESPN that the Kings are sending a 2028 Denver second (if 34-60) and their own second in 2029 to Washington.

The Denver second was acquired from…

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2025

Valančiūnas has averaged 11.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists through 49 games, mostly coming off the bench as a backup and mentor for rookie center Alex Sarr.

His rebounding is down from the double-digit averages he posted for four straight seasons between 2019 and 2023, but Valančiūnas remains an efficient contributor. He is shooting 54.7 percent from the field, including 56.7 percent from the two-point range, during his 13th campaign in the NBA.

The Wizards are losing an important veteran in the trade but will add draft capital to help continue their ongoing rebuild around young players like Sarr and Kyshawn George.

Valančiūnas is playing in the first campaign of the three-year, $30 million deal he inked in a sign-and-trade from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Wizards ahead of the 2024-25 season.

The contract is only guaranteed through next season, with a non-guaranteed $10 million slated for 2026-27.

General manager Monte McNair reportedly told the Kings ahead of the season that he wanted to see the team focus on offensive rebounding in 2024-25. The team then ranked in the bottom half of the NBA in the category in the early stretch of the season.

By adding Valančiūnas, the Kings can now expect more rebounding and additional scoring depth as the franchise works to build a contender following the trade of De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Washington Wizards have the worst record in the NBA and could look to move the 33-year-old Khris Middleton and further focus on the future, but that reportedly is not the plan.

After ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Washington acquired Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap from the Milwaukee Bucks for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix noted the Wizards' plan is to "hold on to" their newly acquired headliner "for now."

Mannix highlighted the thought process behind such a decision:

Wizards plan, for now, is to hold on to Khris Middleton, who played with Malcolm Brogdon in Milwaukee. Move gives Washington a little financial flexibility and frees up even more playing time/responsibility for its young wings. Plus they can take a flyer on AJ Johnson.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 5, 2025

That's something of a blow for Middleton, who went from a potential Eastern Conference contender in Milwaukee to an 8-41 team that apparently isn't interested in moving him to a contender or maneuvering him off the roster.

Middleton won't be playing in the postseason as a result, and the Bucks lost one of their most proven go-to options alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Antetokounmpo provided "a large vote of support" for the front office to acquire Kuzma.

The 29-year-old Kuzma is younger than Middleton and isn't far removed from averaging 22.2 points a night last season. He hasn't been as effective in 2024-25 while posting 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, but perhaps a change of scenery will help him rediscover his recent form.

Playing alongside Antetokounmpo should help as well given the spacing that is naturally created by the nine-time All-Star's gravitational pull on the floor.

As for Middleton, he is signed through just this season with a $34 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign. That is a significant amount of money, but he may choose to decline the option and look for a contender on the open market during the upcoming offseason.

If that is his strategy, the Wizards don't have to worry about him being on the books as they look to accelerate their rebuild in the coming years.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards reportedly agreed to a major trade Wednesday involving wings Khris Middleton and Kyle Kuzma.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bucks are sending Middleton, AJ Johnson and a pick swap to the Wizards for Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and a second-round pick.

ESPN's Bobby Marks provided a breakdown of the salaries of all four players involved in the deal:

Contract details of the Milwaukee/Washington trade:

To Milwaukee

Kyle Kuzma: $23.5M, $21.5M, $19.4M

*⃣$3M in unlikely bonuses that count toward the apron

Patrick Baldwin: $2.5M, UFA

To Washington

Khris Middleton: $31.7M, $34M (Player)

*⃣$2.3M in unlikely bonuses that count…

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2025

Marks added that the trade allowed the Bucks to drop below the second salary cap apron, while the Wizards have the option to swap first-round picks with the Bucks in 2028.

Following Wednesday's trade, the Bucks' roster is as follows:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (F)

Damian Lillard (G)

Kyle Kuzma (F)

Brook Lopez (C)

Bobby Portis (F)

Pat Connaughton (G)

MarJon Beauchamp (G)

Patrick Baldwin Jr. (F)

AJ Green (G)

Delon Wright (G)

Taurean Prince (F)

Gary Trent Jr. (G)

Andre Jackson Jr. (G)

Chris Livingston (F)

Tyler Smith (F)

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Per Spotrac, the Bucks now have $199.2 million in total salary cap allocations, putting them $1.3 million below the second apron and $9.4 million over the first apron.

After swapping Kuzma for Middleton, this is the current breakdown of Washington's roster:

Jordan Poole (G)

Khris Middleton (F)

Malcolm Brogdon (G)

Richaun Holmes (C)

Marvin Bagley III (F)

Alex Sarr (F)

Jonas Valančiūnas (C)

Bilal Coulibaly (F)

Saddiq Bey (F)

Corey Kispert (F)

Johnny Davis (G)

Bub Carrington (G)

Kyshawn George (G)

AJ Johnson (G)

Anthony Gill (F)

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According to Spotrac, the Wizards have $209.4 million in cap allocations, but they are $15.1 million under the second apron and $4.3 million under the first apron.

The 29-year-old Kuzma has averaged 15.2 points on 42.0 percent shooting (28.1 percent from three), 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2024-25. He's played just 32 games (27.7 MPG) due to a right groin strain that sidelined him for a week-and-a-half and a left rib sprain that kept him out for a month.

It's been a disappointing season for Kuzma, but he also averaged a career-high 22.2 PPG the year prior. He's certainly capable of better and more productive play, and a change of scenery could help him here.

As for the Wizards, they have engineered a complete teardown in recent years, dealing Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2023. However, they re-signed Kuzma to a four-year, $90 million contract in 2023.

Kuzma was the star of a downtrodden 15-67 team that finished with the NBA's second-worst record. Washington has continued its downward spiral this year, going 8-41, bad enough for the league's worst record.

The 6'9" forward is in his ninth NBA season. He played four years with the Los Angeles Lakers before they traded him to Washington in a deal that notably brought Russell Westbrook to L.A.

Kuzma has mostly thrived on a personal level with Washington, emerging as a 20-point-per-game scorer for the Wizards. Trade rumors have persisted over time, though, and now a new chapter has begun for the former University of Utah star, who heads to Milwaukee in hopes of continuing his prime.

There were rumblings connecting the Bucks to Kuzma on Tuesday, per David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

Milwaukee needs some help to rise to the Eastern Conference's upper echelon, which consists of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics at the moment. Enter Kuzma, who will do all he can here to help the Bucks ascend after the trade deadline.

As for Middleton, his 12-year run in Milwaukee ends in disappointment, as he will now join a team that is clearly in the midst of a rebuild.

However, Middleton can rest assured knowing he achieved enormous success with the Bucks in the form of three All-Star selections and an NBA championship.

As the NBA trade deadline nears, Kyle Kuzma is reportedly getting impatient with the rebuilding Washington Wizards.

Per The Athletic's Josh Robbins, "all indications are that Kuzma is less patient now with the Wizards' direction" than he was a season ago.

According to Robbins, Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger asked Kuzma how he felt about being traded last year when the Wizards received an offer from the Dallas Mavericks, and Kuzma said he'd preferred to stay in Washington.

When asked about being traded recently, Kuzma seemed somewhat open to it.

"We'll see how it goes. I don't know. I didn't think last year was the right time (for a trade) after signing the deal (a four-year contract in 2023)," Kuzma said, per Robbins. "That was kind of more of a last-year thing. I haven't had conversations (with Wizards management). I haven't even talked about the deadline, haven't talked about being traded. So, this is really the first time I'm really talking about it."

Kuzma had a career season last year, putting up 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He's struggled a bit this year while dealing with injuries, averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

While his numbers aren't as good as last season's, there are likely a handful of playoff contenders that would welcome him in a trade.

The Wizards have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and are on pace for one of their worst seasons in franchise history this year. Their 6-38 record is the worst in the league and a postseason push would take nothing short of a miracle.

Kuzma, now 29, has reached the playoffs just twice in his career. While he already has a championship ring, winning with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, he's likely ready to compete for another title, and it seems that won't be happening in Washington any time soon.

Dealing veteran center Jonas Valančiūnas may not help to accelerate the Washington Wizards' rebuild based on his value ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Athletic's Josh Robbins and David Aldridge reported the Wizards might be able to only get two second-round picks in return for Valančiūnas.

They reported that Washington "will consider" a trade for the right offer but reflected how "finding a trade that serves the team's long-term goals will be challenging."

Valančiūnas is logging a career-low 19.8 minutes per night, but he's performing up to his usual standards so far in 2024-25. Through 38 appearances, he's averaging 11.6 points on 55.8 percent shooting along with 8.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks.

The 32-year-old has a pretty reasonable contract as well. He'll make just under $10.4 million next season and his $10 million salary for 2026-27 is non-guaranteed.

The trouble for the Wizards is that the market for traditional centers isn't very strong, especially for the centers who don't possess at least one elite skill.

If Washington is content to only get back second-round draft compensation back for Valančiūnas, then the Los Angeles Lakers could be a big winner.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported on Dec. 31 that Los Angeles, having landed forward Dorian Finney-Smith, was aiming to use the second-rounders at its disposal to get a backup center. Scotto cited Valančiūnas as a specific target for the Lakers.

Two second-rounders may not do a whole lot for the Wizards front office, though, when the franchise is still so far away from contending. Those picks won't raise the franchise's ceiling too much, and with a roster as young as this, it can be tough to ensure everybody has the opportunity to fully develop on the court when you keep adding more young players.

The presence of Valančiūnas is also a nice luxury for Washington when it's using No. 2 overall selection Alexandre Sarr as the starting center. Beyond being a veteran voice in the locker room, he brings a lot of stability to the frontcourt.

Remove Valančiūnas from the equation and Marvin Bagley III would be thrust into the backup role. Even for a team in a rebuild, that would be less than ideal.

With the Lithuanian big man signed for at least another season, standing pat and seeing whether his trade value improves—it probably can't much lower—could be the smarter play.

Several veteran contributors are expected to be available on the trade market ahead of the NBA's Feb. 6 deadline.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Jonas Valančiūnas and Malcolm Brogdon of the Washington Wizards are among the players that can be moved for second-round picks.

"Other veterans believed to be available for second-round draft compensation with 39 days to go until the trade deadline include Valančiūnas and Brogdon, Toronto's Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown and Utah's Jordan Clarkson," Stein wrote on Sunday.

Valančiūnas is in the first season of a three-year, $30.3 million contract that he signed with Washington in July. The veteran center has averaged 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game this season, shooting 54.8 percent from the field.

We see you Jonas 👀 pic.twitter.com/VVAbjptFZF

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 17, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly been viewed as a potential destination for Valančiūnas as the team searches for an offensive-minded frontcourt partner for Anthony Davis. The Lakers have been active on the trade market, acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

As for Brogdon, he's on a $22.5 million expiring contract. The 32-year-old has only appeared in 14 games this season due to thumb surgery, but he's remained an efficient lead guard.

Brogdon is recording 14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on 45.5/35.0/84.9 shooting splits to open his 2024-25 campaign. He's already shown that he can thrive in a reduced role on a contending team, winning Sixth Man of the Year honors as a member of the Boston Celtics in 2023.

Malcolm with the triple 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Pq8ioWoXNa

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 20, 2024

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported on Dec. 20 that the Utah Jazz would "prefer" to receive a first-round pick in exchange for Clarkson, but the team's asking price appears to be coming down as the deadline draws closer.

The 32-year-old is hitting just 32.4 percent of his attempts from behind the arc this season, but he still ranks No. 5 in bench scoring among all players by averaging 16.3 points per game as a reserve (via NBA.com).

Are you serious Jordan Clarkson???

Beats the shot clock with the CRAZY 3 😤

Jazz lead the Mavs in Q4 on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/jM6yj35wWU

— NBA (@NBA) November 15, 2024

Valančiūnas, Brogdon and Clarkson could all experience a change of scenery if their respective teams covet future second-round picks prior to the deadline.