The Washington Wizards made several headlines after acquiring four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young and 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis. Both trades made the media world go berserk, even if Davis may not play for the rest of the season. With that being said, Washington has made several interesting signings since then as well, which have made crucial impacts in recent games.
Wizards Latest Additions Are Proving To Be Worthy Contributors
Julian Reese and Leaky Black, along with Young, have all made their Wizards debuts recently. Young will always be a worthy piece on any roster. However, neither Reese nor Black had played in the NBA this season. All three have proven to be worthy additions to the Wizards so far, with one possibly securing himself an NBA home in D.C.
Trae Young
Young came to Washington after being shipped out of Atlanta in January. Coming off an injury, Young has impressed in his limited playing time. The 2024-25 assist champion didn’t play outstanding in his debut, scoring 12 points on 20% shooting from three. However, against the New Orleans Pelicans, Young dominated in just 18 minutes of action, showing everyone that this Wizards unit must be taken seriously once Davis returns.
He scored 17 points on 66.7% from the field and 60% from three. Additionally, he led both teams in assists with eight on the night. Young and Wizards rookie Tre Johnson seem to be a very formidable pairing in the backcourt. Young’s passing and Johnson’s incredible shooting ability were on full display throughout the game.
It hasn’t resulted in wins yet, with Young’s Wizards sitting 0-2 with him playing. But there’s no denying the team will be excellent once both he and Davis are fully healthy.
Leaky Black
Mar 8, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (14) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Before his debut with the Wizards, Black hadn’t appeared on an NBA floor since the 2023-24 season, playing 26 games for the Charlotte Hornets. However, four games in, Black looks eager to try and find a permanent NBA home. Through those contests, the former G-Leaguer has averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and one assist while shooting 41.2% from the field and 33.3% from three.
In the Wizards’ outing against the Utah Jazz, Black would score a career-high 16 points after having a near double-double performance two days prior against the Orlando Magic. The forward has played a substantial amount of minutes, averaging 33 per contest, but he’s making the most of his opportunity with the Wizards.
The real question is whether Black can secure a permanent contract in Washington. He’s currently signed to a two-way deal with the franchise, allowing him to continue playing for the Capital City Go-Go as well as the Wizards. Most likely, Black will return to the G-League next season, but his play shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Julian Reese
Arguably, the most impressive of the three has been Reese. The big man had been playing very well for the Raptors 905 in the G-League, and Washington decided to give him a two-way contract. Securing his rights for two seasons, it didn’t take long for him to show Washington he was worth the investment. Through his four games in D.C, Reese has averaged 8.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, two assists, and 1.3 steals across 31 minutes of playing time.
Recently, Reese took over headlines with a historic 20-rebound game against the Jazz. Not only was he the first Wizards player since 1993 to grab 20 rebounds, but he became one of the now three players in the last 40 years to grab at least 20 rebounds within the first five games of their career. The other two? Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. Can’t have much better company than that. Along with his 20 boards, he recorded 18 points, marking his first career double-double in the NBA.
It would be a crucial mistake for the Wizards not to keep Reese around longer than his contract. The team is in desperate need of a true big man off the bench behind Alex Sarr and Davis. If he continues to provide this level of production, expect to see him be signed to a full contract before next season.
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