Washington Wizards Blog – NBA Blog

Lakers trade Deandre Ayton to Wizards

The Washington Wizards announced today they acquired center Deandre Ayton in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Jaden Hardy and two future second-round picks.

Ayton (7-0, 252) has played 470 career games (463 starts) in his eight-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 block per game, while shooting .599 from the field – which currently ranks as the eighth-best field goal percentage in league history. In 72 games with the Lakers last season, he averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game on a career-high .671 clip from the field.

The first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton earned first-team All-Rookie honors after averaging a double-double and shooting .585 from the field, the fourth-best mark by a rookie in league history. The Arizona product has averaged a double-double in seven of eight seasons, one of six players in the league to have at least seven such seasons since 2018.

Hardy was acquired in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 5, 2026. He appeared in 23 games for Washington, averaging 12.6 points per game.

Wizards announce assistant coaching staff

The Washington Wizards announced today the following coaching staff updates:

Adam Caporn, Wizards lead assistant
Patrick Ewing, Wizards assistant coach
Cody Toppert, Wizards assistant coach
Steve Clifford, Wizards coaching advisor
Tevon Saddler, Capital City Go-Go head coach/Wizards assistant coach
T.J. Sorrentine, Las Vegas Summer League head coach

Caporn moves to lead assistant on Keefe’s bench as he enters his third season with the team. The Baldivis, Australia, native was named head coach of the Australian Men’s National Team in March 2025, and has served over 10 years with Australia Basketball as an assistant coach with the National Team (2017-present) and as head coach of the U19 National Team (2014-16). Caporn spent three seasons in the Brooklyn Nets organization as an assistant coach (2022-24) and the head coach of the Long Island Nets (2021-22).

Ewing joins Keefe’s staff as an assistant coach after most recently serving as the head coach of Georgetown from 2017-2023. Following an illustrious NBA career, which saw him voted to 11 All-Star games and seven All-NBA teams as a member of the New York Knicks, Ewing began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards in 2002. After serving in assistant roles with the Houston Rockets (2003-07), Orlando Magic (2007-12), and Charlotte Bobcats (2013-17), Ewing was named the head coach of his alma mater Georgetown in 2017. The Kingston, Jamaica, native was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the 75th Anniversary Team in 2022.

Toppert joins Keefe’s bench in a full-time role after spending the previous three seasons as the head coach of the Capital City Go-Go. Toppert amassed an 85-65 (.567) record in his tenure with Capital City, leading the team to three-consecutive playoff appearances and two G League Showcases. He led Capital City to a franchise-record 31 wins in 2024-25 and coached 13 different players to NBA call-ups.

Clifford served as a coaching advisor with the Phoenix Suns in 2025-26 and comes to Washington with over 40 years of coaching experience. After nearly 20 years at the high school and collegiate level, Clifford took his first NBA coaching role as an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2001-03. The Newport, Vermont, native served as an assistant with the Houston Rockets (2003-07), Orlando Magic (2007-12), and Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13), before taking his first head coaching job with the Charlotte Bobcats (later Hornets) from 2013-18. Clifford spent three seasons as head coach of the Magic (2018-21) before returning to Charlotte from 2022-24.

Saddler becomes the fifth head coach in Go-Go history, coming to Capital City after spending the last three seasons as the head coach of Nicholls State University. At the time of his hiring in 2023, Saddler was the youngest active Division I head coach in the country. He was named a 2024 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Finalist (top 1st-year head coach) after leading Nicholls State to 20 wins, the most by a first-year coach in school history. Saddler led the Colonels to their first back-to-back 20-win seasons in program history and accumulated an overall record of 54-46 (.540) in his tenure.

Sorrentine has spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach on Brian Keefe’s staff and will be the head coach at NBA Summer League for the first time in his career. He spent 16 seasons on the Brown University coaching staff as an assistant coach and served as the associate head coach from 2011 until joining Washington in 2024. A member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Vermont Hall of Fame, Sorrentine played professionally for three seasons in Slovenia, Portugal, Italy, and the then NBA D-League.

David Vanterpool transitions to a basketball operations role in the front office after serving as a Wizards assistant coach the past three seasons.

Wizards center Anthony Davis injury update

The Washington Wizards announced today the following injury update for forward/center Anthony Davis:

Davis, who is out with ligament damage in his left hand, was reevaluated Monday by Dr. Steven Shin of Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Davis’ recovery continues to progress as expected and is healing on schedule. He has been cleared for light contact as he progresses toward his full return.

Wizards forward Kyshawn George injury update

The Washington Wizards announced today the following injury update for forward Kyshawn George:

George, who sustained a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow on March 2 against the Houston Rockets, was evaluated Tuesday by elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister at TMI Sports Medicine & Orthopedics in Arlington, Texas. Dr. Meister confirmed a Grade 2 distal UCL tear. The injury will continue to be treated conservatively, and George will be reevaluated in a week.

Wizards center Anthony Davis injury update

The Washington Wizards have announced the following injury update for forward/center Anthony Davis:

Davis, who is out with ligament damage in his left hand, was reevaluated Thursday by Dr. Steven Shin of Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It was determined that Davis’ recovery continues to progress positively, but the volar plate tissue in his left hand has not yet fully healed. Davis will continue with conservative treatment and advance his basketball activity as tolerated. He will be reevaluated at the end of the month

Wizards guard Trae Young injury update

The Washington Wizards announced today the following injury update for guard Trae Young:

Young reinjured his right quadriceps, sustaining a contusion during the third quarter of the game against Golden State on March 16. Related imaging, due to ongoing back pain, confirmed lower back irritation. Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time.

Wizards sign Alondes Williams to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards yesterday signed guard Alondes Williams to a 10-day contract.

Williams (6-4, 210) has made NBA appearances with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Detroit Pistons, while also playing 146 total games in the NBA G League with the Long Island Nets, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Mexico City Capitanes, and Capital City Go-Go.

The fourth-year pro spent the 2025-26 preseason with Washington before joining Capital City, where he has averaged 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He currently leads the Go-Go with four 30+ point efforts on the season. On Sunday, he took part in his second-consecutive G League Next Up game at NBA All-Star Weekend.

Wizards sign Kadary Richmond to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards yesterday signed guard Kadary Richmond to a 10-day contract.

Richmond (6-6, 205) is in his first professional campaign after spending five collegiate seasons at Syracuse, Seton Hall, and St. John’s. The 24-year-old saw action in summer league and preseason with Washington before joining the Capital City Go-Go. In 23 games (15 starts) with the Go-Go, he is averaging 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting .457 from the field. He has eight games with 10+ points this season, including a season-high 25 points with seven rebounds and five steals at Maine on Jan. 3.

The Brooklyn, New York, native played his graduate season at St. John’s, where he recorded averages of 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He earned two All-Big East honors in his career – a first team nod in 2023-24 and a second team selection in 2024-25.

Wizards center Alex Sarr injury update

Washington Wizards forward/center Alex Sarr has sustained a hamstring strain that will sideline him for the Castrol Rising Stars game in Los Angeles. He is expected to be out through the All-Star break, and the approximate recovery time is two weeks.

The back-to-back Rising Stars selection will join his teammates Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson in Los Angeles for the festivities.

Hawks trade Trae Young to Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert

The Washington Wizards recently acquired guard Trae Young in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for guard/forward Corey Kispert and guard CJ McCollum.

“We are excited to welcome Trae Young to the Washington Wizards,” said General Manager Will Dawkins. “It is a rare opportunity to acquire a player of Trae’s skill, accomplishments, and age. Trae plays an exciting brand of basketball and brings a level of confidence and competitiveness that has set him apart in this league.”

“On behalf of the Hawks franchise, I’d like to thank Trae for how he embraced the city of Atlanta and represented the Hawks during his time here, on the court and in the community. Over more than seven seasons, including four All-Star appearances, he cemented himself as a fan favorite and one of the great players in our franchise’s history. We wish Trae and his family all the best,” said Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh.

“Adding CJ McCollum, one of the NBA’s most prolific shooters and a respected veteran, along with an established young veteran in Corey Kispert, will strengthen our team on the court and in the locker room, and we retain flexibility for future opportunities to continue building our program.”

Young (6-2, 164) has appeared in 493 career games (all starts) in eight seasons with the Hawks. The fifth overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young holds career averages of 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game, while shooting .432 from the field and .351 from three. Young is one of four players to average 25+ points and 10+ assists per game in consecutive seasons after doing so in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 (Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson).

The 27-year-old is a four-time All-Star (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025), was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2021-22, and was a first-team All-Rookie selection in 2018-19. Young currently leads active players and ranks third all-time in career assists per game (9.8) and has finished top 10 in total assists each of his seven seasons, including leading the league in total assists in 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2024-25. Young also led the league in total points during the 2021-22 season, making him one of two players in NBA history to lead the league in total points and assists in a season, joining Nate “Tiny” Archibald in 1972-73.

The Oklahoma product started the Trae Young Family Foundation in 2019 to support education and advocacy on issues including mental health and wellness. His contributions include opening the Young Family Athletic Center in Norman, Oklahoma, in 2024 and being named an Honorary Board Member at The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2019.

Corey Kispert was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by Washington. He appeared in 311 games (105 starts), averaging 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting .475 from the field and .383 from three.

CJ McCollum started in 35 games after being acquired in an offseason trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. He averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, and shot .454 from the field and .393 from three with Washington.

“We thank Corey and CJ for being consummate professionals during their time in Washington,” said Dawkins. “Though they spent varying time here, both left a lasting impact on this organization that we hope our players carry forward.”