After more than a month of roster movement, the Washington Wizards are down to one last open spot.
They’ve already handled the heavy lifting this offseason: bringing back important free agents, adding veteran help, and making the franchise-changing choice at No. 1 overall. Now the front office has one final call to make, and it’s not a simple one. The 15th roster spot has to fit with an emerging young core while also making sense alongside the team’s new star veterans.
That leaves Will Dawkins and company weighing a handful of very different options. One route is to add a backup point guard, a path the Wizards are reportedly considering as they try to account for Trae Young’s injury history.
Another is to chase a wing or developmental piece who can bring value without needing the ball. With the market thinning out, Washington’s choice at the end of the bench could end up being more important than it looks.
One name to keep in mind is Spencer Jones, a restricted free agent with the Denver Nuggets. He’s probably a long shot, since he’s widely expected to re-sign in Denver, but the longer that deal stays unresolved, the more he starts to look like a possible target elsewhere.
Jones didn’t pile up eye-catching counting stats, but he did provide real value last season as a rebounder when Nikola Jokic was out and as a perimeter defender. For Washington, that kind of toughness would be useful.
He’s the sort of player who can matter without demanding touches, which is exactly why he would fit cleanly next to the Wizards’ young core.
If the Wizards do decide to prioritize the backcourt, Aaron Holiday stands out as a logical option. The 29-year-old guard spent last season backing up in Houston and handled the role well, knocking down 39.4% of his 3s while defending solidly.
He also carried a reputation as a steady locker-room presence and a leader. For a young roster still learning on the fly, that kind of stability has real value.
Then there’s Tre White, the most intriguing upside swing of the group. He hasn’t played an NBA minute yet, but his Summer League showing in Las Vegas turned heads.
White averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 40% from 3, flashing the kind of off-ball game that would make sense next to Washington’s ball-dominant guards. He looked comfortable cutting, catching and shooting, and defending with physicality on the perimeter.
He also rebounded well, which only adds to the appeal.
White’s defensive tools could be especially helpful for a team that would like to ease the load on Bilal Coulibaly and cover for Trae Young and Tre Johnson on that end. The catch is that White is unlikely to be available on a standard deal, since he’ll probably get a two-way offer, most likely from Miami. Still, with free agency options drying up, Washington could explore moving Felix Okpara or Jamir Watkins to a standard contract if it wants to make room.
For the Wizards, this final decision is less about filling a seat and more about choosing what kind of help matters most right now. A steady veteran.
A tough, low-usage forward. A young defensive project with real upside.
The last spot is still open, and the front office has a few different ways it can go.
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