Wizards 2025 trade deadline summary

Wizards 2025 trade deadline summary. 

This year’s trade deadline was pretty hectic, if you didn’t manage to catch all of the moves made by the Wizards (there were a lot) I got you covered!

Kyle Kuzma has been in trade talks for over a year now and the Wizards finally found a suitor with the Milwaukee Bucks. Last year Kuzma was rumored to be worth 2 first round picks and was linked to the Kings, however the Wizards decided to keep him. After a bad first half of the season (15.2 points per game, shooting a career low 28% from three) Kuzma’s trade value tanked and the optimism of getting a first round pick for him at the deadline died off. However the Wizards kind of got the equivalent of a first round pick in this deal by getting rookie AJ Johnson. The Bucks needed to throw either a first or a good young piece to get rid of Middleton’s horrible contract. Middleton earns 31 million dollars a year which could go up to 34 million because of an extension available at the end of the year. Middleton has only started 81 games in the past 3 years due to injuries. The Bucks are getting in Kyle Kuzma an experienced two way wing that strengthens their hopes of a title run as their window is short with both Damian Lillard aging and Giannis’s situation remaining unclear. To circle back to AJ Johnson he was an intriguing prospect in the 2024 draft. AJ was a coveted recruit coming out of high school but decided to play in the pros in the NBL for the Illawarra Hawks, however he saw limited playtime there. My main concern with AJ is his lean frame limits him when attacking the rim and defending. Nevertheless AJ Johnson is 6 '5, only 20 years old and has shown flashes in the little playing time he’s seen this year. He’s coming off a 13 point game against OKC. AJ Johnson has averaged 13.4 PTS (43 FG%, 28.3P%, 92.3 FT%), 4.1 AST, 3.8 REB in the G league this season. Here are the full trade details: Bucks receive Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr and 2nd round pick compensation. The Wizards receive Kris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Pick swap. 

The Wizards obtained more first round picks for Jared Butler than from Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma combined. In a trade sending Jared Butler to Philly, the Wizards received a first round pick (less favorable of Oklahoma City, Houston if 5-30 and LA Clippers (2026).In return, the Sixers receive: 2027 second round pick (most favorable of Golden St. and Phoenix), 2028 second round pick(Golden State), 2030 second round pick (most favorable of Phoenix and Portland), 2030 second round pick (Washington) and Jared Butler. The Wizards have more second round picks than they could think of, moving up in the draft is a smart move. They will probably waive Reggie Jackson.

The Johnny Davis era comes to an end in DC, the former 10th pick in the 2022 NBA draft along with Marvin Bagley and a 2025 second round pick were shipped to Memphis in a multi team deal that lands Marcus Smart, Alex Len, Colby Jones and Memphis’ 2025 first round pick in DC. I can’t stress enough how important this extra first round pick is. We know that the Wizards will likely be picking in the top 4 as they hope to either land a potential franchise player in Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper. However this draft is one of the most talent filled we’ve seen in recent years. This late first offers them an opportunity to add another great young piece to this roster. Guys like Ian Jackson, Will Riley, Jase Richardson, Danny Wolf and more will be available in that late first range. 

What does this mean for the Wiz going forward? Poole, Brogdon, Smart, Kispert and Bey all remain as movable assets for the future. 

Here is what the roster should look like. Starting 5: Jordan Poole, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. I think the goal here is to develop the rookies and give them playtime but have experienced players on the roster whom they can learn from. Guys like Malcolm Brogdon, a former DPOY in Marcus Smart, Khris Middleton, Alex Len and more.

Still amazing how this front office has managed to turn things around with so little. They came into a mess and inherited the worst contract in the NBA in Bradley Beal which didn’t give them much room to work with. Overall, General Manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger turned a Play-In team that was going nowhere with Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford into a promising young core. What is the timeline ? As things stand, I see the Wizards tanking again next year and picking at the top of the lottery. We will have to wait until the 2026/27 season to see the Wizards start competing in the East. This trade deadline will go down arguably as the best in history and the Washington Wizards took advantage of it. I give it an A+.