The additions of CJ McCollum and Cam Whitmore coupled with Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson should give Wizards fans a glimpse of hope. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images + Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 18-64 (15th in East, missed playoffs)
The rebuilding process is usually not pretty to watch. The Wizards followed a 15-67 campaign by going 18-64 last season. Rookies played 35% of the team’s minutes a year ago as the Wizards were outscored by 12.4 points per game.
All news in Washington isn’t bad though. The roster features 10 former first-round picks. Tre Johnson, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is a player they can build around. Alex Sarr (First Team) and Bub Carrington (Second Team) earned All-Rookie honors last season.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Anthony Gill, Khris Middleton (player option exercised)
- Additions: Marvin Bagley III (free agent), Malaki Branham (trade), Dillon Jones (trade), CJ McCollum (trade), Cam Whitmore (trade)
- Draft: Tre Johnson (6th pick), Will Riley (21st pick, acquired via trade), Jamir Watkins (43rd pick)
- Departures: Saddiq Bey (trade), Malcolm Brogdon (free agent), Richaun Holmes (overseas), Jordan Poole (trade), Marcus Smart (waived), Blake Wesley (waived)
- Unsigned Free Agents: N/A
The additions of CJ McCollum and Cam Whitmore coupled with Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson should give Wizards fans a glimpse of hope. Carrington had a solid rookie season and McCollum and Whitmore are capable scorers.
It will be a balancing act for 3rd year coach Brian Keefe, trying to balance minutes for his veterans, while not interfering with the minutes for the future of the team.
Can't stop watching this Tre Johnson play 😮💨 https://t.co/myCeHGSjcT pic.twitter.com/9zhBDdtIfR
— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025
X-factor
Alex Sarr. His defense was ahead of his offense last season, but his overall potential is undeniable. The second pick of the 2024 NBA Draft averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game as a rookie.
He averaged almost 16 points per game after the All-Star break, and as his confidence – and usage rate – increase, so will his numbers.
> Watch Alex Sarr on NBA League Pass
Washington Wizards 2025-26 X-factor – Alex Sarr
Check out some of the best plays from Alex Sarr during the 2024-25 season.
One key question
Who will provide leadership to one of the youngest teams in the NBA?
CJ McCollum is the former president of the National Basketball Players Association. He served in that role for four years so he is definitely being counted on to provide veteran leadership to a team with 12 players under the age of 24.
Despite being 34 years old, he will probably be in the starting lineup and is being counted on both on and off the court to be a leader for the Wizards.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the East. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Wizards:
“The cellar-dwelling Wizards fittingly focused on adding some quality youth in the offseason that could pay dividends in coming years, but Washington also acquired a talented veteran in CJ McCollum via trade with the Pelicans. Malaki Branham and Cam Whitmore might be poised to make the biggest impact among the new arrivals, considering the playing experience they’ve garnered early in their careers with the Spurs and Rockets, respectively.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 12 vs. Raptors (3 ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season Opener: Oct. 22 at Bucks (8 ET, League Pass)
- Home Opener: Oct. 26 vs. Hornets (6 ET, League Pass)
- Emirates NBA Cup East Group A Play: Nov. 7 vs. Cavaliers (7 ET, League Pass), Nov. 21 at Raptors (7:30 ET, League Pass), Nov. 25 vs. Hawks (7 ET, League Pass), Nov. 28 at Pacers (7:30 ET, League Pass)
What they’re saying
David Aldridge, The Athletic: “Washington crapped out in the lottery but did well by getting the sharpshooting Johnson at No. 6, then acquiring the 21-year-old Whitmore from Houston. Both should immediately leap to the top of the Wizards’ offensive chart.” (Read More)
