Washington Wizards 2025 Offseason Preview

Washington Wizards 2025 Offseason Preview

Yo, what’s going on, guys? And today we’ll be doing our off season preview for the Washington Wizards. We’ve done these previews the last several years. So, before we start today’s video, I want to hear your thoughts down below in the comments section. What do you guys think of the Wizards season? What do you guys expect this off season and why? And yeah, let’s get right into it. I think it’s definitely going to be an interesting one. So, what did we see? The Wizards went 17 and 64. And the draft picks, they’re going to have a top draft pick in this year’s draft. They also have the Grizzlies pick and they have a second rounder through Phoenix. The draft order will be figured out, you know, obviously when the lottery happens next month. Malcolm Brogden is unrestricted free agent. Chris Middleton has a player option that he’s more than likely going to pick up. and Tristan Buukovich and JT Thor are both going to be restricted free agents. Now, we knew that this season was still the tear down phase for the Wizards. they had described it that they were still tearing it all down and that they were focusing on deconstructing and laying the foundation down for the upcoming future, which I think again with Brian Keith being in his first season, he was able to establish somewhat of a culture or like a core that he’s he wants a defense. And again, I said this before, the Washington Wizards front office and even Brian Keith are all exce. So, the Wizard fans know that laying down the foundation is going to be coming with growing pains. The youngest team in the NBA when weighed by playing time, seven players are 23 years or older according to ESPN and they endured two separate losing streaks of 17 games this year. But I think what we saw was second year La Kovali looked good and even the rest of the roster we talked about this. I thought there was several dudes who were able to come out and provide some some help that I think most people weren’t expecting a wizard squad that you know they were ranked 30th in offensive rating 27th in defensive rating and guys who played the most games below Kali had 81 games played so far Jordan Peshan George Alexr far. Cory Cer, Justin Champeni, Hawaii, Bob Carrington played 81 games. Ba Cool Bali so far has played 59 and those seven dudes right there really were the the main rotation. I wonder if Rash Sean Holmes and stuff cuz like if we look at the salaries, so who are some guys that are still in the books for next year? Marcus Martin’s expiring. Chris Middleton’s expiring. So, I wonder if you use the you dangle those two as trade filler down the road for a trade to get yourself either a player. I could even see somebody maybe being interested in a city bay. And yeah, I think that’s the the biggest thing is you look here, you’re like, “All right, I’m I’m curious. I’m curious. I’m curious.” And I think that’s the the biggest thing that they make sure that they can maximize their roster and take advantage of the salaries that they have right here and maybe use a pick to sweeten a team to take salary or maybe even ask a team for some picks and be like here’s some expiring contracts. will give you cap flexibility for the 2026 free agency if you want to like alternate pieces. And Balco Bali actually before suffering a season ending hamstring injury in March ranked top 15 field goal percentages allowed as the closest defender among more than 100 players to defend at least 600 shots this season per second spectrum. No, Sar he averaged 17 points and 38% on three-pointers after the all star break. For a guy who really had a rough go to start the year and let me say I I saw Alex in person against the Miami Heat. It was not pretty. But Alex Rar ends up this season averaging 13 points, 1.5 blocks, 2 and a half assists, 6 and 1 half rebounds. I always said it, you don’t really pass up on a 7 foot shop blocker. And if they can a Cooper flag, I mean, the future looks really good then cuz they’re able to have a players that are going to be able to fit the idea. Plus, they down the stretch they were five and four when both Chris Middleton and Marcus More were down the floor. And look, Sadique was obviously someone. I thought they were going to run Sadiq out there this season just for us to see him, but it looks like they’re just going to say, “Nah, we’re just going to call it a gap year.” And he got hurt last March, I want to say, was when that ACL happened. Yeah, March 2024. And he was a 14 point per game scorer out in Atlanta. and just as his career was a guy who’s always shown that he could be a borderline not borderline but like a good trash no I wouldn’t say trasher area but like fourth or fifth option and having the two ability obviously the Wizards have the ability also AJ Johnson’s a bum I don’t like AJ Johnson they had $20 million in non-G guaranteed contracts between Rashan Holmes Justin Champeni, Anthony Gil, and Kobby Jones. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cole Jones and Bashan Holmes and Justin Champeny are put in the deal. I think they love Josh Penney, but I would not be surprised if contending teams a again, Rashan Holmes, another one will trade for that salary and then cut him because he’s an ungaranteed deal. So, we expect that Anthony Gil is considered like a locker room guy. His contract’s only 2.2 to guaranteed in July. While Middleton has that June 29th opt-in date for his $33.3 million. So, the Wizards will have the non-ax mid level of 14.1 and the bannual of 5.1 million. Then the second round in the veteran minimum exceptions as a result of the trades that they made. They have three trade exceptions. One of 9.9 million, one of 5.3, and finally another of 2.5 million. Again, I wouldn’t be expecting them to go ahead and make like a big deal. It’s again, I think they’re making deals if somebody’s asking them to consolidate salary in exchange for one of their non-G guaranteed deals or for one of their expiring deals for a team looking to create C flexibility for the 2026 offseason or even this off season. Now, we know the priority for this team moving forward is going to be for the second straight year. This is a team that wants to collect draft picks and young players. I think Keshan George was someone that Bobby Marsh wrote that they moved up last year and they helped the assets to move up in the draft if they want to. Now he they have 16 second round picks and including two in this year. So, don’t be surprised as last year they were able to send the 51st pick and move up two slots and while swapping first rounders to get Khan. So, they’re able to do that. And do they want the veterans? Will they be able to move the $70 million in expiring contracts with what 15 of them being non-g guaranteed and Rashan Holmes with the other being Middleton and Smart. We talked about that. And then Jordan Pool, he has a terrible contract, but Jordan Pool posted a career-high in points, assist, steals, and three point goal percentage. Pool only has two years remaining, 31 million 34 and is extension eligible starting on October 5th for 154 million. So, I mean, Jordan Bull seems to be better. He He’s had his moments. I think they’re Look, nobody’s going to be getting an extension. I think when you look at a team that was terrible offensively, they have some signs of life defensively. Let’s get some rebounding. We need a rebounding day. We And we just need some perimeter shooting and let’s go from there. And I I think it’s fine. What are you guys’ thoughts? It’s It’s fun.

The Washington Wizards enter the offseason with significant opportunities and decisions ahead. After a challenging 17-64 season, Washington holds a top-2 lottery pick with a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall selection. Young players like Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr showed promise, while the addition of veterans Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart provided stability late in the year. Key decisions include managing Middleton’s player option, utilizing cap flexibility, and deciding on Jordan Poole’s future extension. Join us as we explore the Wizards’ draft prospects, offseason finances, and key roster needs to determine the path forward for this rebuilding franchise.

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