Washington Wizards season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

The Washington Wizards had an interesting way of building toward this season.

Trae Young played just 15 games last season, a career low, and only five of them for Washington. He called it “a blessing in disguise,” the deal that sent him out of Atlanta after the Hawks never offered him an extension. The Wizards then gave him four years and $212.8 million – the most any team could have offered him – and agreed to it the day before they used the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA on AJ Dybantsa.

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Nobody was actually bidding against them though.

The Wizards had already landed Young and Anthony Davis in midseason trades, then won the lottery after losing 26 of their final 27 games. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring as a BYU freshman.

Deandre Ayton came from the Los Angeles Lakers for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. Khris Middleton arrived in a six-team sign-and-trade at three years and $17.6 million, but only the first year is fully guaranteed.

Washington has gone 50-196 over three seasons and has not won a playoff series since 2017.

Here’s a breakdown of the Washington Wizards’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

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WASHINGTON WIZARDS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/washington-wizards-season-preview-lineup-094419301.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-22 09:44:00

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