The Wizards preserved their 2026 lottery pick with their latest loss.
Washington won’t have to convey its first-round pick to the Knicks after falling to 17-62 on the season with a 129-98 loss to Chicago on Tuesday. The pick was top-eight protected and the Wizards are now assured of finishing among the bottom three teams in the league, Josh Robbins of The Athletic points out (Twitter link). That means Washington can’t wind up with a pick lower than seventh, regardless of the draft lottery results.
The Wizards no longer owe the Knicks a first-rounder. Instead, they’ll convey their second-round pick this June and their 2027 second-rounder to New York. This year’s second-round selection will be No. 31 overall if the Wizards don’t win one at least one of their final three games.
The Wizards cycled through 26 players this season while failing to win more than two games in a row. They added former All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis via midseason deals, but Young only appeared in five games for the team while Davis has yet to make his D.C. debut.
After winning their first two games following the All-Star break, the Wizards went into all out tank mode and have won just one of their last 24 games. They’ll wrap up their season with home games vs. Chicago on Thursday and Miami on Friday, followed by a visit to Cleveland on Sunday.
Mission successful, as painfully as it was to watch. Wiz have some young players to continue to build around. But will Trae and AD buy in? Will you have some damned lottery luck this year?
I’m a fan and can see some degree of value in the guys they currently have. But is the tanking going to profit this franchise? Its literally up to chance in that department.
I appreciate that they are trying something here, but we all know AD+Trae is on the “high risk/high reward” side. I would assume they would target the best SG or SF available in the draft no matter what pick they get, then go target the best guy they can get in the FA market.
Trae-SG-SF-AD-Sarr
Champagnie, Bagley, Johnson, Riley, Carrington, Coulibaly, George
Nice future the Wizards have, next year depends on who they get in the draft to play SG or SF, then adding the other position via FA or trade.
Bagley I would love to have back as he got traded, though Juju Reese might eventually be able to fill that role. I’m hoping Dybantsa and then Peterson, but I wouldn’t be disappointed with Boozer or Wilson. Just need some damned luck for this franchise at some point. They’ve got some pieces, just have t cobble them together. And you have some OKC Thunder former execs to do so. Hopefully that bodes well.
Exactly, Bagley is a FA, I would expect he would also be interested in a reunion, he was a great fit there before and even moreso with AD there.
There’s nothing to buy into. Trae doesn’t play winning basketball and Davis is made of glass. The Wizards aren’t going to be good any time soon.
I’d like to see Trae traded in the summer. I don’t believe he’s a winner.
AD is, but the question is his health and mentality. What will his reaction be to a run of bad games next year? He’ll likely want out.
Also, I don’t feel like this season is the last of bad years and it’s only upwards from here. I don’t feel that there’s enough young talent on the team even with a high pick this year to have a decent season in 26-27.
And I’m really scared of the lottery. Detroit finished 30th in the table 3 years in a row and got the 5th pick every time.
I agree. Trade AD too
Next year will be a mediocre year if healthy… Best to go into the season hoping to tank…
Then you might be surprised if AD turns around his “Street clothes” routine and can cover up for Trae enough…
Then maybe a first or second round exit… But if you go in expecting a tank… You won’t be disappointed at that as it is progress…
However… It does have a lot of hallmarks of the Process… Bunch of youth, no real stand out, and injured star level talent…
But Silver trying to get some adjustments in before this lottery? The odds could change depending on if they implement anything.
Any changes made to the lottery this offseason would be implemented beginning in 2027, not 2026.
No changes to lottery until after this draft. It’s in the CBA. It’s not going to happen.
Just to clarify as to why, the Draft is part of the league’s calendar year.
It is technically the grand finale for league business in a given year, rather than the start of a new one. The season/cycle ends June 30th.
Their most recent signing is starting PF Julian Reese is averaging 11 rebounds per game
This team reeks of the Process to me…
Just a dressed up one using the cap space on ageing talent…
Clearly tanking… And will be mediocre at best if they make a run for it thinking they can be like Detroit…
But with Trae and AD that is not the plan… The plan seems to be to play both a lot of minutes, get them injured, them wrap them in cotton wool whilst the team racks up the losses…
Trade Trae Young and Anthony Davis with a future top 10 protected 1st to the Kings for Zach LaVine, Hunter, Monk their 1st in the draft. See if the Kings take it
Kings would…everything is a about bit names to them, not fit.
This team is a best case scenario 8 seed if everyone is healthy.
We all know top 3 will likely be pacers,bucks,dubs. Wiz? Bucks would probably end up with more luck
We all knew Wizards weren’t giving up that pick.
As it is they should be a playoff team next yr. Definitely top 10. They could luck out with top 5 pick this yr (Acuff). Or better right.
Knicks will have two nice picks. With Wizards #31 pick.
That 31st will probably be a center. Would like for them to look at a D (PF). With the first rd pick. Someone like Michigans Johnson, or St Johns Zuby. They would look good next to Towns.
Rather be a Wizards fan than a Bulls fan. But this is probably not a Pistons like turnaround. No defense Trae and AD/Sarr might be a workable combo. But all these poor luck mediocre height lotto draft picks are killing them.
Wizards have plenty of SFs a d wings. I wonder if they would take AJ if he was available. Imo Boozer is the best pick for them. I like Trae there. I think he has a lot to prove. And he will show up.