The Washington Wizards are aiming to turn the page on a painful rebuild as the 2026-27 preseason begins, fueled by major acquisitions and the arrival of a generational talent. The team closed the 2025-26 campaign on a five-game skid, culminating in a 130-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12. Now, with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa in the fold, the franchise believes its reconstruction phase is over and playoff basketball could return to the capital.
The Wizards' roster looks dramatically different after aggressive moves. They acquired Trae Young for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert before last season's trade deadline. Young played just five games for Washington. Later, they brought in Anthony Davis in a multi-player deal sending out Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, and draft picks. Davis has yet to suit up for the team.
The crown jewel of the offseason is forward AJ Dybantsa, selected first overall. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at BYU, averaging 25.5 points per game on 51% shooting. His Summer League debut saw him score 27 points, tying the record for a No. 1 pick. The Wizards also added complementary pieces for depth, though they traded Cam Whitmore to Cleveland for Tre Mann and a 2027 second-round pick.
The end of the 2025-26 season was rough.
This difficult finish showed the growing pains of a young team, though it also secured them the top draft pick used on Dybantsa.
Dealing Cam Whitmore to the Cavaliers for Tre Mann and a future pick was a move that divided fans. Whitmore showed promise in limited action, averaging 9.2 points in just 16.9 minutes per game off the bench before a blood clot injury ended his season. However, with Dybantsa, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley, and Kyshawn George on the wing, his path to minutes was blocked.
Tre Mann arrives with questions. He played only 66 games over the past two seasons and shot 36% from the field last year. But he flashed potential with Charlotte in 2024-25, averaging 14 points per game in a brief 14-game stint. This trade may not be a major step forward, but it reflects a roster now deep enough to move a talented young player for a different look.
All eyes are on AJ Dybantsa. His talent is considered generational. He scored at least 30 points eight times in college, with two 40-point outbursts. One of those, a 40-point game against Kansas State, broke Kevin Durant's Big 12 Tournament freshman scoring record. His offensive toolkit is advanced. He can break down defenders on the perimeter and finish with a variety of moves, including sidesteps and fadeaway jumpers.
His frame and athleticism project him as an immediate impact player. The Wizards hope his arrival, combined with the established star power of Young and Davis, can accelerate the timeline from rebuilding to competing. The preseason will offer the first look at how these pieces fit together on the court. For a team that won just 17 games last season, any progress will be welcome, but the ambition is now clearly set on the playoffs.
