The District’s out-of-left-field move shocked the NBA world, as the Wizards surfaced as a contender in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, leaving competing teams like Toronto and Atlanta in the dust.
A day before the highly anticipated trade deadline, the Washington Wizards unexpectedly made headlines. They traded Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, two first-round draft picks, and three second-rounders for Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum.
Along with having acquired Trae Young in January, two All-NBA stars are now at the helm of Washington’s once unassuming roster.
The transaction made one thing clear regarding the rebuild: they are done laying the foundation and are ready to build up.
The Deconstruction Phase Is Over
The Wizards have not looked pretty the past several years. The last time they were above .500 was the 2017-2018 season. In more recent years, Washington was stuck in the forbidden middle ground. In the shortened 2020-2021 season, they won 34 games. Then, in the two years after, they won 35 each.
Then, in 2023, new management arrived along with a new vision. President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins oversaw a complete roster overhaul to redirect the team’s future.
They traded away their stars, moving Bradley Beal’s expensive contract and replacing him with Jordan Poole. They also traded Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. Washington began to embrace their newfound young identity and the tank.
The losing worked in their favor, landing promising players like Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson in the draft.
This stage of this renovation project is what Winger called the “deconstruction phase.”