Story by
Two Former Wizards Get Mixed Roster News Ahead of 2026-27 Season
- Story by
- Two Former Wizards Get Mixed Roster News Ahead of 2026-27 Season
(Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
The Washington Wizards have all but finalized the 2026-27 roster with just one two way spot left to fill nearly one week ahead of training camp, yet a pair of former Wizards are among the late offseason movers as teams across the NBA finalize rosters.
News broke that second year forward Julian Reese is expected to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two way deal, giving him another familiar face in his second NBA stint. Reese now reunites with Derik Queen , the former first round pick who shared the floor with Reese for one season at the University of Maryland. The Baltimore natives were previously teammates at St. Frances Academy in high school, giving the duo a chance to continue their teammate connection through their basketball careers.
Advertisement
Reese, a 6-foot-9, 252-pound forward, became an end of season sensation for the Wizards after averaging 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 53% from the floor across nearly 31 minutes, ten starts and 13 total appearances. Reese arrived in Washington after he was signed from the Toronto Raptors ' G League team during the 2025-26 season, initially giving the two-way addition another familiar face in the organization given the Capital City Go-Go also had guard Eric Ayala -- who played one season with Reese at Maryland -- on last season's roster. Reese is also the third former Terp on the Pelicans' training camp roster alongside Queen and undrafted rookie Solomon Washington.
After a brief stint in Summer League, Reese became part of a five team trade that initially sent him to the Denver Nuggets before he was waived, while the Wizards landed point guard Tre Mann to address a lingering roster need this offseason.
While Reese looks to settle in New Orleans with a chance to face the Wizards in the preseason finale on Oct. 16, point guard D'Angelo Russell will once again look to find a new home.
After never appearing in a game with Washington, Russell picked up his team option before being included in a six team trade that sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies while Khris Middleton returned to the Wizards for his second stint with the organization. Russell never reported to the Wizards organization after he was included in the midseason Anthony Davis trade while he will look to make his first NBA appearance since Jan. 10. Russell averaged 10.2 points and four assists across 19 minutes, three starts and 26 total appearances with the Mavericks in 2025-26.
