The Washington Wizards have had a pretty quiet 2026 offseason, with their biggest move being their re-signing of Trae Young after he opted out of his player option.
Wizards Linked To 2 Veterans as They Look to Finalize 2026-27 Roster By Adding Backup Point Guard; Who Else Are Candidates
The Wizards do have an open roster spot and are reportedly looking for a specific player to finalize their roster. According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype, the Wizards are searching for a backup point guard.
“The Wizards will look to add a backup point guard behind Young to round out their roster, HoopsHype has learned,” Scotto said.
Washington currently has 14 players on standard contracts with a salary cap hit of $189.4 million. This leaves the Wizards $10.9 million below the luxury tax. The Wizards are hardcapped at the first apron, though they have considerable space ($19.5 million).
Washington brought in Young and Anthony Davis at February’s trade deadline to help fast-track their rebuild, which is technically in year four, and mentor their youngsters. While Davis didn’t suit up for the Wizards, Young played in five games, and though they lost each game, the 27-year-old did show off his pedigree as a top lead guard, though turnovers and defense were issues. He averaged 15.2 points on nearly 60% from the field, and 6.2 assists in just 2o minutes a game.
Washington has missed the playoffs in each of the last five years. The Wizards haven’t posted a winning season since 2017-18 and have won fewer than 20 games in each of the last three years. Over the last three seasons, the Wizards own the worst record in the NBA, posting a 50-196 mark. The 50 victories during this stretch are 20 fewer than the Utah Jazz, who own the second-worst mark during this stretch.
Why Are The Wizards Looking For a Point Guard
Washington went 17-65 last year, which was the NBA’s worst record. Unsurprisingly, the Wizards struggled on both ends of the court, ranking dead last defensively and 28th offensively. Point guard was a huge issue for the Wizards last year as they ranked just 25th in assists (25) and 27th in turnovers (15.7).
Washington’s point guard unit was among the worst in the league. The group contributed 22 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.8 assists (20th), and 1.2 steals (28th). The group struggled to shoot the ball well, though they didn’t get to the foul line often.
Bub Carrington has run the point the last two seasons. While the 21-year-old showed mild improvement, Carrington has not yet demonstrated he is ready for a competitive NBA team. There were thoughts that the Wiz may look to sell high and trade Carrington, but there have been no substantiated rumors to that effect at this point.
Tre Johnson is the only guard that saw time at the point last year and is still on the roster. But Johnson is better when off the ball.
Plus, Washington hasn’t really done anything in this offseason to rectify their point guard situation. The Wizards made the right choice by taking AJ Dybansa with the No. 1 pick. The Wizards then traded their two second-round picks for center Felix Okpara, the No. 46 pick. Their other moves this offseason were trading D’Angelo Russell and Jaden Hardy for veterans Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton.
Forward Julian Reese and versatile wing Jamir Watkins join Okpara on minor league deals.
Who Could The Wizards Target?
Washington figures to be targeting veteran point guards who are defensive-minded and can run the offense in short bursts. A reunion with Russell Westbrook has been mentioned, and Gabe Vincent has also been linked to the Wizards.
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook, who played for the Wizards back in 2020-21, is coming off a solid season with Sacramento. Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists with shooting splits of 42.7/33.8/69.4. He produced 16 double-doubles, six triple-doubles, and his two treys per game were the second most of his career.
Westbrook really doesn’t fit with the Wizards this year as the Wizards’ 2026 roster is built around shooters and wings who need clean driving lanes. While the Wizards still lack a true creator in the halfcourt, he is not a shooting threat whose game is predicated on putting pressure on the rim.
Gabe Vincent
Vincent struggled this past season in 59 games with the Lakers and Hawks, compiling 4.4 points and 1.1 threes with shooting splits of 35.9/34.1/87.0. Still, Vincent is a good fit due to his ability as a point-of-attack defender and leadership qualities. He is also a low-usage guard who can run an offense.
Aaron Holiday
An even better fit than Vincent is Aaron Holiday. Holiday doesn’t make many mistakes, brings toughness defensively, and can run an offense. He is one of the better on-ball defenders and is a reliable 3-point shooter, knocking down 38.4% of his attempts for his career.
Holiday is coming off a solid season. The 29-year-old averaged 5.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 triples with shooting splits of 41.7/39.4/85.4 in 57 appearances for Houston.
Gary Payton II
Gary Payton II is a solid fit with the Wizards as he has elite point-of-attack defense, plays hard, and is efficient. The 33-year-old is coming off an outstanding campaign, averaging 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field for the Warriors.
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is a good fit with the Wizards due to his defensive versatility, size, rebounding, connective passing, and low‑usage stability. Ball is injury-prone and has struggled with efficiency over the last two seasons. The 28-year-old averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists with shooting splits of 30.1/27.2/66.7 with Cleveland this past season.
Reece Beekman
Reece Beekman spent all of last season with the G-League’s Osceola Magic after spending time with the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors in 2024-25. The 24-year-old, known for his on-ball defense and playmaking capabilities, was with the Wizards summer league team in Las Vegas recently. He averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks in five games in Vegas.
Photo Credit: Brad Mills, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
