Ted Leonsis defends Wizards’ long-term rebuild plan

Team owner Ted Leonsis said he has no regrets about the Washington Wizards fully tearing down their roster after several seasons stuck in mediocrity.

Washington has won just 15, 18, and 17 games over the past three years, but Leonsis said he believed a complete “deconstruction” was the only realistic path toward building a contender again.

“(Michael Winger) said to me three or four times, ‘You know, this could take four or five years,’” Leonsis said, referring to the Wizards’ president of basketball operations Michael Winger.

“And I said, ‘I totally understand. I’ve been through the deconstructing stage with the Capitals. I lived through it the first time with the Wizards. I’m prepared.’”

Leonsis praised the front office for how the rebuild has been handled so far.

“I don’t see any other path to get out of where we are than deconstruct,” he said. “And they executed it very, very well.”

The Wizards’ long-term outlook improved significantly after winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, giving the franchise a chance to add another foundational player to its young core.

Even so, Leonsis emphasized that the rebuild is far from complete.

“I think it’s an important point on this long, long journey that we’ll be on,” he said before adding, “The deconstruction, though, is over.”