Category: Washington Wizards Blog

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76ers trade Reggie Jackson to Wizards for Jared Butler

The Washington Wizards yesterday acquired a 2026 first-round pick and guard Reggie Jackson in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for guard Jared Butler and four future second-round picks.

Washington acquires the least favorable pick of the 2026 first round between the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets (if Houston is 5-30). Washington second-round picks sent to Philadelphia include the 2027 more favorable of Golden State and Phoenix, 2028 via Golden State, 2030 more favorable of Phoenix and Portland, and the Wizards’ own in 2030.

Jackson is in his 14th NBA season and is averaging 4.4 points per game in 31 games this season. He holds career averages of 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in 884 career games (530 starts).

Butler was on a two-way contract with Washington and had appeared in 32 games this season, averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 assists per game. The fourth-year guard holds career averages of 5.6 points and 2.3 assists per game in 120 games.

Wizards trade Jonas Valanciunas to Kings

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired Jonas Valančiūnas in a trade with the Washington Wizards for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

During the 2024-25 season, Valančiūnas is averaging 11.5 points (54.7 FG%, 89.6 FT%), 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 20.1 minutes per game in 49 games (12 starts). He ranks 24th in rebounds per game, 19th in total rebounds (404) and in field goal percentage, tied for 16th in total offensive rebounds (120), 20th in total defensive rebounds (284) and seventh in free throw percentage this season.

In 13 seasons, Valančiūnas has posted career averages of 13.3 points (56.0 FG%, 79.3 FT%), 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 25.4 minutes per game in 905 career games (839 starts) with Toronto (2012-19), Memphis (2018-21), New Orleans (2021-24) and Washington (2024-25). Among active players, he ranks 13th in rebounds per game, ninth in total boards (8,500), sixth in total offensive rebounds (2,485) and 12th in total defensive rebounds (6,016) and in field goal percentage. Valančiūnas was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team for his performance during the 2012-13 season and has been a member of the men’s senior Lithuanian national team since 2011.

Wizards exercise contract option on Bilal Coulibaly

The Washington Wizards yesterday exercised the third-year rookie scale team option for guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly.

Through three games this season, the second-year pro is averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on .500 shooting from the field. Coulibaly notched a career-high 23 points against Cleveland on Oct. 26, also tying his career high with four made threes.

The Courbevoie, France native played for his home country during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, appearing in six games and contributing to a silver medal-winning French team.

In his rookie campaign, Coulibaly ranked sixth among rookies in total steals and blocks and was in the top 10 for points (ninth) and rebounds (eighth) at the time of his season-ending injury. He was the second-youngest player to appear in a game last season, averaging 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of .435 from the field and .346 from three-point range.

Wizards waive Jared Butler

The Washington Wizards yesterday requested waivers on guard Jared Butler.

Butler saw action in 40 games for Washington during the 2023-24 season, averaging 6.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. The Baylor product also appeared in 16 games for the Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, last season.

He most recently appeared in five preseason games for Washington.

The Wizards roster currently stands at 18, including three two-way players.

Wizards sign RayJ Dennis to Two-Way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard RayJ Dennis to a two-way contract.

Dennis (6-2, 180), spent 2024 NBA Summer League and preseason with the LA Clippers before being waived on Oct. 9. The Oswego, Illinois native played five seasons of college basketball with Boise State (2019-21), Toledo (2021-23), and Baylor (2023-24) – appearing in 35 games as a super-senior with the Bears in 2023-24. He was voted as a second-team All-Big 12 selection after averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Dennis was the unanimous MAC Player of the Year in 2022-23, averaging 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game and leading the Rockets to a MAC title.

Wizards to host an open practice on October 16, 2024

The Washington Wizards will host their annual open practice on Wednesday, October 16, at the Thurgood Marshall Academy in Southeast D.C. beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Thurgood Marshall students, staff, and facility will be invited to watch the team practice as they continue to prepare for the 2024-25 season. The Thurgood Marshall community will enjoy an afternoon featuring the Wizards Dancers, G-Wiz, DJ Heat, in-arena host Britt Waters, and the entire Wizards roster and coaching staff. All those in attendance will receive a ‘202’ Wizards branded t-shirt courtesy of Capital One.

Wizards hire Brian Keefe as their new head coach

The Washington Wizards have named Brian Keefe as head coach. Keefe becomes the 26th head coach in the organization’s history.

“We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “As a leader in the organization, he will continue to positively grow and invest into the development of our players. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success.”

Keefe was originally named interim head coach on January 25, 2024, with the team seeing improvement in defensive rating, overall net rating, and opponent three-point percentage over the remainder of the regular season. Under his direction, the Wizards held opponents to the second lowest three-point percentage (34.5%) in the league. Before being named interim head coach, Keefe was in his first season with Washington, serving as the team’s lead assistant coach.

Throughout his 16-year NBA coaching career, he has been influential in the development and evolution of the careers of multiple All-Stars, All-NBA, and MVP caliber players, with stops in Brooklyn (2021-2023), Oklahoma City (2019-20 and 2007-2014), Los Angeles (2016-2019), and New York (2014-2016). Known for his extensive background in player development, multiple Wizards players improved in various statistical categories under Keefe’s guidance as interim head coach.

He started his NBA career as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. During his second season, the team won the 2007 NBA championship.

“I am grateful to Michael [Winger] and Will for the opportunity to lead the Washington Wizards,” said Keefe. “I look forward to continuing to work with our players and helping them grow and develop. As a team, we are committed to a collaborative approach to build an environment of accountability and hard work that allows us to improve every day.”

As an assistant coach, Keefe has been a part of teams that have earned playoff berths on eight occasions, including five consecutive playoff appearances (2009-2014) and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Wizards sign Justin Champagnie to two-way contract, R.J. Hampton to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard-forward Justin Champagnie to a two-way contract and guard R.J. Hampton to a 10-day contract.

Champagnie, who signed a 10-day contract with Washington on Feb. 22, has averaged 3.7 points per game in three appearances with the team. In his lone game with the Capital City Go-Go, the NBA G League affiliate of the Wizards, on Feb. 26, he scored 29 points on 7-10 shooting from three-point range while adding seven rebounds and three assists. The Pittsburgh product is averaging 22.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in 35 NBA G League games this season between Capital City and Sioux Falls.

Hampton (6-4, 175) appeared in eight games for the Miami Heat this season while on a two-way contract, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 assists per game. He has played in 15 total NBA G League games this season with Sioux Falls and Capital City, averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He was acquired via trade by the Go-Go on Feb. 14 and most recently scored 24 points on 6-7 shooting from three-point range with seven rebounds in a Capital City win on Mar. 1.

Wizards sign forward Justin Champagnie to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed forward Justin Champagnie to a 10-day contract.

Champagnie (6-6, 206) has started in all 34 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League this season, averaging 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Champagnie is shooting .494 from the field in 37.6 minutes per game and his 15 double-doubles rank fourth in the G League this season.

The 22-year-old has previously spent time with the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, averaging 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 41 total NBA games in his three-year career. Champagnie (pronounced sham-penny) attended the University of Pittsburgh for two seasons and was named a first team All-ACC selection as a sophomore after averaging 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.