Story by
6 Players Who Don’t Belong On The Wizards’ Roster
- Story by
- 6 Players Who Don’t Belong On The Wizards’ Roster
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards are finally building toward something. They have a young core worth getting excited about, a new No. 1 overall pick in AJ Dybantsa , and a developing big man in Alex Sarr .
And then there's Trae Young , who was given a hefty contract extension , to complete an exciting starting lineup . No doubt, the Wizards are building towards being a sleeper team in the Eastern Conference .
Advertisement
The Wizards already made their big move by acquiring Young, giving the franchise a veteran point guard who can actually make the game easier for them.
That's why Washington has an important decision to make.
Does it want to win now, or build the right way? The answer should be obvious.
Dybantsa needs the ball. Sarr needs development. Young needs weapons around him. Washington should be giving its core players as many meaningful minutes as possible.
That makes the following six players expendable.
6. Justin Champagnie
The 25-year-old Champagnie has shown enough to remain intriguing, but the Wizards don't appear to have a clear rotation role for him. If his $2.7M team option is picked up, there's a very real possibility that Champagnie spends much of the season watching.
Advertisement
That's not particularly useful for either side.
Champagnie averaged 8.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.6 BPG on 50.2% FG, 31.9% 3-PT FG, and 78.4% FT over 69 games with 19 starts.
At 25, he's still young enough that another team could look at his size, athleticism, and ability to contribute as a wing and decide there is something worth developing. But sitting behind Washington's younger prospects doesn't help the Wizards determine what they have, either.
If another franchise sees Champagnie as a potential rotation player, Washington should listen.
5. Cam Whitmore
This one is much more interesting because Cam Whitmore ($5.5M team option) has the talent to make Washington regret giving up on him.
Advertisement
The former lottery pick has flashed the physical tools and scoring ability that made him such a highly regarded prospect. He's explosive and capable of putting points on the board in bunches.
He posted 9.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 45.6% FG, 28.6% 3-PT FG, and 74.2% FT in 21 games with no starts. A shoulder condition kept him from playing more.
The problem with Whitmore in Washington is opportunity. Whitmore hasn't received the consistent runway necessary to figure out exactly what he can become.
Washington already has Trae Young and Dybantsa as offensive focal points. The Wizards don't necessarily need to give another young player a high-usage scoring role when their two biggest offensive investments already need touches.
Advertisement
A rebuilding team with no established scorers off the bench could give Whitmore 25-30 minutes every night and tell him to go figure it out. The Sacramento Kings, for one, make sense for him.
That could be much more valuable than Washington trying to squeeze him into an already crowded offensive lineup. With Whitmore averaging 17.3 MPG over his career, he might be hungry for more playing time.
4. Tristan Vukcevic
Washington's frontcourt is becoming increasingly crowded, and Tristan Vukcevic ($3M in 2026-27 with $3M team option in 2027-28) stands out. For one, Sarr is the obvious long-term centerpiece.
Advertisement
The Wizards also have other options behind him, including Keyshawn George, and the roster simply doesn't need to dedicate valuable developmental minutes to every young big simultaneously.
That's particularly true if Washington wants to play faster.
The Wizards have a potentially fascinating combination with Young and Dybantsa. Young can push the pace with his pick-and-roll game, while Dybantsa's athleticism gives Washington the ability to play bigger on the wing.
The ideal roster around those two should prioritize versatile defenders, shooters, and athletes.
Vukcevic is still developing into his role, as he averaged 9.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 47.9% FG, 34.7% 3-PT FG, and 78.4% FT in 49 games with 12 starts.
Advertisement
No doubt, if Washington can turn him into another useful asset, it should at least explore the possibility.
The goal isn't to dump every young player, but make sure the young players who remain actually fit the identity Washington wants to create. Vukcevic is only 23 years old, so he has time, but Washington might not want to bury him much longer.
3. Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton ($5.6M) was brought in because young teams need adults in the room, and that's understandable.
He's a three-time All-Star and NBA champion who has spent years playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. He understands playoff basketball, knows how to operate without dominating the ball, and can provide a locker room with credibility that young players need.
Advertisement
But there's a difference between having veteran leadership and giving a veteran meaningful minutes. For one, Middleton is turning 35 years old in a few days.
He posted 10.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.1 BPG on 42.0% FG, 36.0% 3-PT FG, and 87.5% FT over 63 games with 50 starts. He also averaged 22.8 MPG last season with the Mavericks and Wizards.
The Wizards aren't in a position where squeezing every remaining productive season out of Middleton should take priority over developing their young core. If Washington has to choose between 25 minutes for Middleton and meaningful developmental opportunities for Dybantsa, Sarr, Keyshawn George, and the rest of its young players, the answer should be obvious.
The kids need to play.
Advertisement
Middleton could still help a contender, but Washington could potentially turn him into another asset or simply reduce his role while prioritizing its future.
2. Deandre Ayton
The Wizards don't need a second center taking up valuable developmental oxygen because they need to figure out exactly what Alex Sarr can become. The trade for Deandre Ayton was made for insurance, but was it the right move?
Ayton is still a talented player. He's a former No. 1 overall pick, a proven scorer around the basket and an experienced NBA center. Last season with the Lakers, Ayton averaged 12.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 1.0 BPG on 67.1% FG and 64.5% FT over 72 games. He started every game he played.
Advertisement
But Washington already has its long-term frontcourt centerpiece in Sarr.
So why create a logjam? The more interesting possibility is using Sarr as the starting center while giving Dybantsa more freedom to operate as a power forward.
Suddenly Washington can play big without necessarily playing slow.
Trae Young can control the offense, Dybantsa operates as the forward, and Sarr protects the rim and develops his offensive game.
That's a much more interesting long-term experiment than spending huge chunks of the season trying to find enough minutes for Ayton, who will make $8.1M in 2026-27. If Washington can find a trade that turns Ayton into future assets or opens minutes for its young players, the Wizards should seriously consider it.
Advertisement
1. Anthony Davis
This is the one that could generate the most arguments, because Washington has already created the kind of fantasy roster that gets fans dreaming.
Trae Young. AJ Dybantsa. Alex Sarr. Anthony Davis . On paper, that's a fascinating group.
In reality, it might not be the answer for the Wizards. Davis, who will make $58.5M in 2026-27, is still a tremendous player when healthy. He averaged 20.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.7 BPG on 50.6% FG, 27.0% 3-PT FG, and 72.8% FT over 20 games before a finger injury sidelined him.
At his peak, he was one of the NBA's premier two-way stars, combining elite rim protection with All-NBA-level scoring. He has been an All-Star 10 times, an All-NBA selection five times, and an All-Defensive selection five times.
Advertisement
But the Wizards shouldn't be paying for the Anthony Davis of five years ago. Davis wants a max deal, but the Wizards should absolutely not give him that. The big man only played 20 games last season and 51 games the year before, and is turning 34 in a few months.
Washington shouldn't sacrifice its future because it wants to create a superteam headline.
Dybantsa and Sarr are the future. And Trae Young (27), while older than the two youngsters, is the veteran offensive engine who can help accelerate their development.
Davis could absolutely make Washington better in the short term. Does Anthony Davis make Washington better when Dybantsa and Sarr are 25?
Advertisement
That's the question the front office should be asking.
If Davis is looking for a max-level commitment, Washington should think very carefully before handing one out. The Wizards have spent years searching for a direction and cannot throw it away.
Washington would be better served building around the two young stars and using Young as the catalyst rather than trying to rush into contention with an aging superstar who simply cannot stay healthy .
