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Incoming: Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, AJ Johnson, Sidy Cissoko, Colby Jones, Alex Len, Reggie Jackson (waived), 2025 first-round pick (via MEM), 2026 first-round pick (least favorable of OKC, HOU, LAC via PHI), 2028 first-round swap (w/MIL), 2028 second-round pick (DEN via SAC; protected 31-33), 2029 second-round pick (via SAC), 2030 second-round pick
Outgoing: Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Jared Butler, Johnny Davis, Marvin Bagley III, 2025 second-round pick (least favorable w/MIL), 2027 second-round pick (most favorable of GSW and PHX), 2028 second-round pick (via GSW), 2028 second-round pick (via SAC), 2030 second-round pick (most favorable of PHX and POR), 2030 second-round pick
Middleton has little utility for the Washington Wizards on the floor but retains some as a veteran influence on the youth corps. His $34 million expiring salary (player option) next year could theoretically be flipped for another asset over the summer or at the 2026 deadline.
The 2028 swap rights Washington got in the deal are a pretty speculative asset, as the Bucks may not be worse in the 2027-28 season than the Wizards. Ditto for AJ Johnson, Milwaukee’s first-rounder in the most recent draft who’s had his moments in the G League but remains a long way from factoring in the NBA.
Spin it just right, and you could argue the Wizards got the equivalent of two first-rounders for Kuzma—plus whatever value Middleton might bring back down the road.
Washington also turned four future seconds into a 2026 first-rounder that’ll be the worst of the Thunder, Clippers and Rockets’ selections. That probably means it’ll be in the range of the late 20s, but the Wizards had loads of seconds to spare.
Another first, this time a 2025 selection from the Grizzlies, came attached to Marcus Smart’s contract, which will pay him $20.2 million this year and $21.6 million in 2025-26. Just more correct rebuilding behavior by the Wizards, who showed a willingness to absorb bad money with draft picks throughout the deadline period.
The deal that sent Valančiunas to the Kings for Cissoko and two seconds is a little underwhelming, but it appears first-rounders were never on the table for the veteran center.
Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale.
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