The Washington Wizards have moved on from Leaky Black, waiving the former Tar Heel after one season on a two-way deal.
Black’s departure clears another spot in a roster offseason that has already forced the Wizards into some hard choices. The team had to decide whether to keep him in the fold after last season or open the door for someone else, and Washington went with the latter.
The Wizards announced the move on July 1, 2026, saying, “The Washington Wizards have requested waivers on forward Leaky Black.”
Black’s time in Washington was limited but productive when he got the chance. He played in 15 games, starting nine of them, and averaged 7.1 points and five rebounds while logging 29 minutes per contest. A lot of that run came late in a rough 17-win season, when the Wizards needed bodies and leaned on him down the stretch.
His shooting line with Washington reflected that stretch as well: 106 points on 40-for-103 from the field, 19-for-65 from 3 and 7-for-8 at the line, all in 433 minutes across 15 games.
Black also spent time with the G League Capital City Go-Go, and that’s where his numbers popped more clearly. In 14 games there, he averaged 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds while playing nearly 35 minutes a night and shooting 43.5% from the field.
For Washington, the decision fits the direction of the roster. The Wizards are trying to turn things quickly, and with a group led by Anthony Davis, Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, they’re aiming to make noise in the Eastern Conference right away.
That also lines up with how the league works. NBA teams are always hunting for younger players they can develop, and Black, at 27, is already on the older side by NBA standards. Washington is expected to use the open two-way spot on someone it believes can grow in the G League and eventually help the big club.
Even with the waiver, Black’s next stop should not be hard to find. He should draw interest from teams looking for a two-way player, and if that doesn’t happen, the G League remains a very real path. He has already shown he can produce there and contribute in multiple ways.
His future is unsettled, but this move does not read like the end of the road. Leaky Black still has basketball left, and wherever he lands next, he’ll bring value on and off the floor.
In Other News...
UNCs Portal Rebuild Already Has A Few Regret Candidates
North Carolinas portal haul has given the Tar Heels a fresh batch of names to sort through, and a few of the additions already come with more questions than certainty. Defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., linebacker Derek McDonald and defender Jaylen Harvey are all part of a roster reset that has been especially noticeable at linebacker, where departures have left the depth chart in flux and the staff is trying to piece together a workable mix.
Edwards brings experience and a track record from his time at Maryland, but his path has not been clean, and the same can be said for the rest of the group as the staff tries to project who will actually translate into reliable production. McDonald has the look of a useful fit on paper, while Harvey and Abou-Jaoude add another layer of uncertainty to a rebuild that is still very much in progress, which is why this portal class already feels like it could define more than one answer in Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Still Has A Shot At A Massive Early Recruiting Win
Marcus Spears Jr. has already become one of the more intriguing names in the 2027 class, and North Carolina is squarely in the mix. The Dynamic Prep standout has drawn national attention for a versatile game that has earned comparisons to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Chris Bosh, the kind of praise that usually comes with a crowded recruitment and a long list of bluebloods watching closely. Along with the Tar Heels, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and USC are all involved, which tells you how quickly this one has moved onto the national radar.
For North Carolina, the appeal goes beyond simply being in the race. Spears would be the sort of early statement addition that can help a new staff show it can still land elite talent at the highest level, and the Tar Heels have a real opening to make their case before the field gets smaller. His recruitment is expected to tighten soon, so the next stretch could tell a lot about whether UNC is positioned as a serious contender or just one of several heavyweight programs hoping to stay in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]