The Washington Wizards shook up their direction by acquiring Trae Young ahead of this season’s trade deadline, a move that immediately raised questions about how aggressive the franchise might be going forward.
With projections indicating the Wizards could have between $45 million and $50 million in cap space this offseason, many around the league have speculated that Washington could look to accelerate its rebuild by adding more talent.
However, team president Michael Winger cautioned that such an approach is far from guaranteed.
“We’re not necessarily hitting the gas pedal,” Winger said. “Whatever we do with that cap space – it might evaporate in the next two weeks, we just don’t know.”
Rather than committing fully to spending, Washington has reportedly signaled to other teams that it remains open to absorbing unwanted contracts in exchange for draft picks or young players.
One possible example of that strategy could involve Khris Middleton and his expiring $33 million deal, which could appeal to teams looking for financial flexibility.
Winger also addressed the timeline for evaluating the Wizards’ young core, noting that while the organization remains patient, decisions will eventually need to be made about which players fit into the long-term plan.
“We’re coming upon a time in the next 6-18 months where we have to declare which of our youngest players can make material contributions to our eventual contention and which will make their most meaningful contributions somewhere else,” Winger said.
Wizards ‘Not Necessarily Hitting Gas Pedal’ With Talent Acquisition This Summer https://t.co/rSyt65XfDt
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 23, 2026
