A three-year tank, featuring a combined 50 wins, finally yielded the result long-suffering Wizards fans were hoping for: a No. 1 pick to kick-start a rebuild that has for years been stuck in neutral.
With a core now centered around 2026 No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, newly signed Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, the Wizards look like a team destined to make a significant jump in 2026-27. (Some league insiders believe our Summer Forecast prediction for Washington is still too low!)
Still, questions remain: Will the team re-sign Davis to the max extension he desires or will he request a trade? Did they overpay Young? With an increasingly competitive East, what is the ceiling for this squad?
ESPN's staff of experts is looking back at the offseason and taking an early look at the 2026-27 season for all 30 teams, with 30 pieces -- one for every team -- rolling out each weekday through Sept. 18. We're answering the biggest looming questions, evaluating X factors and much more for all 30 teams.
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Offseason at a glance Key additions: AJ Dybantsa, Khris Middleton, Deandre Ayton, Tre Mann Key subtractions: Cam Whitmore, D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy Key retentions: Trae Young