The Washington Wizards just made their boldest move in nearly a decade - and it's not just a splash, it's a full-on cannonball into relevance. After years of rebuilding and recalibrating, the Wizards have brought in two legitimate stars: Trae Young and Anthony Davis. That’s not just a roster shake-up - it’s a franchise reset.
Let’s break it down.
Washington landed Young from Atlanta on January 7, and Davis just arrived from Dallas this week. That’s a four-time All-Star point guard and a five-time All-NBA big man walking into Capital One Arena in the span of a month. For a team that hasn’t posted a winning record since 2017-18, this is the kind of swing that signals a front office ready to shift from rebuilding to reloading.
What did it cost them? Surprisingly little.
The Wizards didn’t have to part with any foundational young players or lottery picks. Instead, they gave Atlanta and Dallas what those teams were looking for: financial breathing room. Young and Davis are set to make a combined $100.4 million this season, and both have hefty player options looming - $49 million for Young next year, and $58.4 million for Davis before a $62.7 million option in 2027-28.
Washington sent out expiring contracts like C.J. McCollum, Khris Middleton, Malaki Branham, and Marvin Bagley III, along with manageable deals like Corey Kispert and Cameron Johnson. In short, the Wizards offered cap relief in exchange for star power.
Yes, this tightens up Washington’s own financial flexibility moving forward. But when you’re adding two All-Star-caliber players without giving up your future, that’s a trade-off you make every time.
So what does this mean for the Wizards’ future?
This is the most optimistic the franchise has looked since its last deep playoff run in 2017. Not only do they now have two stars in place, but they’ve also got a promising young core and a lottery pick coming this summer. If they hit on that pick - and the 2026 class is loaded with top-tier talent like Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa - the Wizards could be looking at a real foundation for sustained success.
But this is also a high-wire act. There are risks here, and the Wizards know it.
**First, health. ** Davis has long been one of the NBA’s most dominant bigs when healthy, but that “when” is doing a lot of work.
He’s played 65 or more games in a season just once since 2019. Young, meanwhile, is currently sidelined with knee and quad issues and won’t be reevaluated until after the All-Star break.
The team will need to manage both carefully, especially if they want to preserve their top-eight protected draft pick this year.
**Second, fit. ** Young and Davis may be big names, but they still have to mesh with Washington’s existing roster.
The Wizards can’t afford to rush into long-term extensions before seeing how everything clicks. For now, a short-term deal for Young - something like two years with a player option and an average annual value around $35 million - might strike the right balance between security and flexibility.
**Third, timing. ** The Wizards are still playing the long game.
They’re not trying to win the East this year - they’re trying to set themselves up to be a serious contender in the next two or three seasons. That means being smart about when to push and when to hold back.
Right now, the priority is to keep that protected pick and avoid locking themselves into contracts that could become anchors down the line.
On the court, the additions fill two glaring holes.
Washington didn’t have a true point guard. Second-year player Bub Carrington has shown flashes, but he’s not ready to run the show just yet.
Trae Young is. He’s a high-usage, high-creation floor general who can orchestrate an offense and stretch defenses with his deep shooting.
They also didn’t have a true center. Alex Sarr is a promising young big, but he’s more of a natural power forward and has struggled against heavier, more physical centers like Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Davis, at 253 pounds and with five All-Defensive selections and three block titles to his name, gives the Wizards a legitimate anchor in the paint - and allows Sarr to slide into a more natural role.
So what’s next?
In the short term, the Wizards need to be cautious. Rest Young and Davis.
Protect that draft pick. Let the young core continue to develop.
Then, once the lottery dust settles and the roster is fully formed, it’s time to see what this new-look squad can do.
If everything breaks right - health, chemistry, development - this could be the start of something special in D.C. But if the injuries linger or the fit doesn’t work, the Wizards could find themselves stuck in a tough financial spot.
For now, though, there’s real reason for excitement. The Wizards have stars.
They have youth. They have a plan.
And for the first time in a long time, they have a path forward that doesn’t feel like wishful thinking.
The rebuild is over. The real work begins now.