Category: Washington Wizards Blog

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Wizards to host Fan Appreciation Night on April 9

The Washington Wizards will celebrate and show their appreciation to their loyal, dedicated, and passionate fanbase on Fan Appreciation Night on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. when the Philadelphia 76ers come to Capital One Arena.

To celebrate the night, hip-hop duo Ying Yang Twins will entertain the crowd at halftime with hits “Salt Shaker,” “Get Low,” “Say I Yi Yi,” and “Halftime.” The Wizards Entertainers and G-Wiz will also be featured throughout the performance.

Prior to the game, fans can attend the Fan Appreciation Night Block Party at District E Powered by Ticketmaster beginning at 5:00 p.m. Fans will enjoy giveaways, a virtual reality activation, custom trading card photobooth, free appetizers while supplies last, and District Bites drink specials.

All fans in attendance at the game will take home a Wizards City Edition DMV t-shirt (photo attached). Bilal Coulibaly will address the crowd before the start of the game and the team will present the 2024-25 Dr. E.B. Henderson Award during a pregame ceremony. The team award, introduced during the 2021-22 season, recognizes a Wizards player for their work in the community.

Wizards add JT Thor to roster off waivers

The Washington Wizards a few days ago claimed forward JT Thor off waivers. Thor comes to Washington on a two-way contract.

Thor (6-9, 215) is in his fourth NBA season out of Auburn, having appeared in 174 career games with the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Thor was originally selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and holds career averages of 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Thor has also appeared in 46 career games in the NBA G League with the Greensboro Swarm and Cleveland Charge, averaging 14.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. In 24 games with the Charge this season, he averaged 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.

Wizards sign Justin Champagnie to multi-year contract

The Washington Wizards have signed forward Justin Champagnie to a multi-year NBA contract.

In a related move, Washington released forward Jalen McDaniels from his 10-day contract.

Champagnie, who signed a two-way contract with Washington on Mar. 3, 2024, has averaged 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in 55 appearances over his two seasons with the Wizards. In 40 games (15 starts) this season, Champagnie has already set career highs in games and starts, while also currently averaging career highs in points (7.5), rebounds (4.6), field goal percentage (.504), and three-point percentage (.376).

Champagnie also appeared in eight games for the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He was selected to participate in the G League Up Next Game as part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend in February, scoring five points in six minutes of action.

Wizards sign Jalen McDaniels to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed forward Jalen McDaniels to a 10-day contract.

In a related move, Washington released guard Erik Stevenson from his 10-day contract.

McDaniels (6-9, 190) is a 27-year-old forward in his sixth NBA season. He has appeared in 248 regular season NBA games for the Toronto Raptors (2023-24), Philadelphia 76ers (2023), and Charlotte Hornets (2019-23), recording career averages of 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 18.3 minutes per game.

A native of Seattle, McDaniels spent two seasons at San Diego State (2017-19) before being drafted in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

In 26 games (all starts) for the Capital City Go-Go this season, McDaniels is averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He has notched three double-doubles and has scored 10+ points in 17 games this season, while leading the Go-Go in rebounds per game (min. 10 games).

Wizards sign Erik Stevenson to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Erik Stevenson to a 10-day contract.

In a related move, Washington released guard Jaylen Nowell from his 10-day contract.

Stevenson (6-4, 205) is a 25-year-old guard in his second professional season out of West Virginia. He took part in training camp with San Antonio in 2023 and Washington in 2024, before playing with each team’s NBA G League team. Stevenson also played in three games for Washington during 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

In 32 games this season, Stevenson is averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game with the Capital City Go-Go. He currently ranks third in points per game off the bench for the full NBA G League season (min. 10 games) and has scored 20+ points 15 times. He was selected to the G League Up Next game on Feb. 7.

Wizards sign Jaylen Martin to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed forward Jaylen Martin to a two-way contract.

Martin (6-6, 216) is a 21-year-old forward in his second season out of Overtime Elite. He was previously on a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets this season, appearing in three games for Brooklyn and 12 games for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. Martin has also played 10 games for the Delaware Blue Coats, and in his 22 total NBA G League appearances this season, is averaging 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

The Tallahassee, Fla. native also played in 28 NBA G League games last season with Long Island and the Westchester Knicks, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Four-team trade sends Khris Middleton to Wizards, Kyle Kuzma to Bucks

The Washington Wizards yesterday acquired forward Khris Middleton, guard Akeem Jamaal (AJ) Johnson, the right to swap a 2028 first-round pick, and cash considerations from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for forward Kyle Kuzma and a 2025 second-round pick. As part of a four-team trade, the Wizards also acquired the draft rights to Mathias Lessort from the New York Knicks and dealt Patrick Baldwin Jr. to San Antonio.

“We look forward to welcoming Khris and AJ to Washington” stated General Manager Will Dawkins. “Khris is a championship-caliber player whose professionalism will help our organization in multiple ways. AJ’s addition to our roster provides us another young, athletic, and versatile guard.”

Middleton (6-7, 222) was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft (39th overall) before being traded to Milwaukee in 2013. A three-time All-Star (2019, 2020, 2022), he was also a member of Team USA that captured gold during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 762 career games (657 starts) across 13 seasons with Detroit and Milwaukee, Middleton holds career averages of 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He has made nine playoff appearances (80 games) and started every game during Milwaukee’s playoff run to the 2021 NBA Championship. In the postseason, Middleton has averaged 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

Johnson (6-5, 170) was selected by the Bucks in the 2024 NBA Draft (23rd overall). He is currently averaging 2.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in seven games with Milwaukee this season. Johnson has also appeared in 25 games (Tip-Off Tournament + Regular Season) for the Bucks’ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. He joins Alex Sarr (second), Bub Carrington (14th), and Kyshawn George (24th) as the fourth player from the 2024 NBA Draft to be added to Washington’s roster.

In three-and-a-half seasons with Washington, Kuzma appeared in 232 games (230 starts) averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In 32 appearances for the Wizards this season, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Kuzma was originally acquired by Washington in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 2021-2022 season.

“We want to thank Kyle for his contributions during his time with our team,” said Dawkins. “His impact on and off the court was felt by teammates, coaches, and fans alike. His dedication to giving back to the DMV community will leave a lasting impact. We wish him and Patrick success in the next chapter of their careers.”

Baldwin Jr. was traded to Washington prior to the start of the 2023-24 season and appeared in 60 games, averaging 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.

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.