Last Thursday, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger stepped to the mic with a clear message: the Washington Wizards have turned the page. After three grueling seasons of tearing things down, the rebuild is officially over. And if you’ve been following the moves, that declaration shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The Wizards’ acquisition of Trae Young - a multi-time All-Star still squarely in his prime - signals a new era in D.C. While Winger stopped short of putting playoff expectations on next season, the writing’s on the wall.
You don’t bring in a player of Young’s caliber just to tread water. This is a team looking to rise, not just rebuild.
The Youngest Starting Five Ever - and What Comes Next
Last Saturday, the Wizards made history by rolling out the youngest starting lineup the NBA has ever seen. That’s not just a trivia nugget - it’s a window into the franchise’s current strategy. Youth is the foundation, but now comes the hard part: deciding which pieces are part of the long-term blueprint.
Names like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly are expected to stick around and grow into their roles. They’re the ones who’ve shown enough promise to be in the conversation for second contracts. But when you’re building around a star like Trae Young, development minutes don’t come as easily - and that could affect the future of two-way players like Tristan Vukcevic, Jamir Watkins, and Sharife Cooper, as well as recent additions like Cam Whitmore and Will Riley.
In short, the Wizards aren’t playing the long game anymore. They’re trying to win - or at least compete - now. That shift changes everything, from rotations to roster spots.
Dealing Deni and the Bigger Picture
The front office has already made some tough calls. Trading Deni Avdija to Portland raised eyebrows - especially with the Wizards set to face the Blazers the same night Winger spoke.
But according to Winger, the move wasn’t about Avdija’s talent. It was about timeline.
At 23, Avdija was further along than the rest of the Wizards’ youth movement, and that misalignment made him expendable.
The same logic likely applied to the deal that sent Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum to Atlanta in exchange for Trae Young. Winger didn’t dive deep into that trade during the presser, but the message was clear: the Wizards are consolidating around a core that fits Young’s window. They’re not just collecting talent - they’re building a team.
The Mystics: A Rebuild of Their Own
While the Wizards are shifting gears, the Mystics are just getting started on their rebuild - and this one’s fully under Winger’s direction. In a WNBA landscape where nearly every veteran is on an expiring contract and free agency is set to be a frenzy, the Mystics are banking on a pair of promising young stars: Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
In a league where even the most stable rosters are about to be reshuffled, Citron and Iriafen offer something rare - certainty. They’re on rookie deals, they’ve shown flashes of star potential, and for now, they’re the faces of a franchise in transition.
Winger didn’t get pressed on playoff expectations for the Mystics in 2026 - and with good reason. Until the dust settles on free agency, it’s impossible to know what this team will look like.
But what is clear is that the upcoming draft will be critical. Winger is eager to see how the new additions will complement Citron and Iriafen, and that trio could be the foundation for something special down the line.
Home Court and Shared Spaces
One of the more practical topics Winger addressed was the Mystics’ current home at CareFirst Arena - a smaller venue that’s drawn mixed reactions. While he praised the intimate fan experience, he also confirmed that the Mystics will shift the bulk of their home games to Capital One Arena once renovations are complete.
That’s not just a venue upgrade - it’s a statement. It reflects an investment in the franchise and a belief that the Mystics can draw bigger crowds and build a broader fan base. Winger also emphasized the benefits of the shared practice facility with the Wizards and G League affiliate Capital City Go-Go, describing Monumental Basketball as a collaborative ecosystem rather than a hierarchy.
The Bottom Line
For the Wizards, the rebuild is over. For the Mystics, it’s just beginning. But in both cases, the message from Winger was consistent: Monumental Basketball is shifting out of neutral and into drive.
With Trae Young in the fold, a young core ready to grow, and a front office unafraid to make bold moves, the Wizards are positioning themselves to be more than just relevant - they’re aiming to be competitive. Meanwhile, the Mystics are laying the groundwork for their next era, with Citron and Iriafen as the cornerstones.
There’s still plenty of uncertainty ahead - that’s the nature of modern basketball. But for the first time in a while, there’s also a clear direction. And that’s a win in itself.