The Washington Wizards had a productive offseason so far, getting off the Jordan Poole contract and acquiring young forward Cam Whitmore at a discount price. While the franchise’s future seems bright, it is reportedly intending to have another rough season.
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, he Wizards’ front office is “incredibly motivated to retain its first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft that the New York Knicks hold the rights to.” Washington’s pick is top-8 protected, and the club intends to find a way to ensure New York doesn’t get it.
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“The Wizards are incredibly motivated to keep their 2026 first-round pick, which is top-eight protected to the Knicks. Based on everything I’ve heard, I would be very surprised if they didn’t find a way to stay at the bottom this year to hold onto it.”
The Athletic’s Fred Katz on the Washington Wizards desire to keep their 2026 1st
Washington finished last season as one of just three teams with fewer than 20 wins, recording the second-worst winning percentage in the NBA. Despite being tied for the best odds to land the first overall pick, the NBA Draft lottery dropped the team to sixth.
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It shouldn’t prove too difficult for the Wizards to finish near the bottom of the NBA standings next season. Washington’s point guard tandem of Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson still has a lot of room for growth, and the team is hoping to see Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr develop more on the offensive end.
The Wizards are an obvious likely seller at the NBA trade deadline next season, with CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton both potential trade chips. While neither player has a ton of trade value, they are on expiring deals, each worth $30-plus million per season.
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