RealGM Basketball Wiretap

23 February 2026

• Leaky Black, Wizards To Sign Two-Way Contract

  The Washington Wizards are signing forward Leaky Black to a two-way contract. Black is filling the two-way roster spot that was opened up when Washington signed Tristan Vukcevic to a three-year, $9 million standard contract.

  Black has played in 35 games this season for the Wizards G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. The 6-foot-6 forward has averaged 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Black has shot 46.6% from the field and 36.2% on 3.9 three-point attempts per game.

• Tristan Vukcevic, Wizards Signing Three-Year, $9M Deal

  The Washington Wizards are signing big man Tristan Vukcevic to a three-year, $9 million contract. Vukcevic has been with the Wizards on a two-way contract this season.

  The 7-foot big man has been with Washington for parts of the last three seasons. Vukcevic was originally drafted by the Wizards in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, and joined the team late in the 2023-24 season. He then played last season on a two-way deal, before re-signing on another two-way contract for this season.

  In 35 NBA games this year, Vukcevic has averaged 7.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game. The center/forward has shot 47.8% from the field for the season.

• Trae Young Cleared To Increase On-Court Activity, Anthony Davis Not Ready For Basketball Activity

  The Washington Wizards released updated injury reports Thursday on Trae Young and Anthony Davis, with both players continuing to recover from separate ailments coming out of the All-Star break.

  Young, sidelined by a right knee MCL sprain and quad contusion, showed positive progress in his post-break evaluation. The Wizards cleared him to increase on-court activity, with a follow-up update expected within one week.

  Young has appeared in just 10 games this season and has yet to play for Washington since arriving via trade from the Atlanta Hawks.

  Davis's recovery timeline remains less certain. Evaluated by Dr. Steven Shin of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the veteran big man is progressing as anticipated from ligament damage in his left hand but has not been cleared for any basketball activity.

  The Wizards will reassess Davis in two weeks, with further updates to follow as warranted. He has logged 20 appearances this season before the injury sidelined him.

  Washington provided no target return dates for either player.

• Alondes Williams, Wizards Sign 10-Day Contract

  Alondes Willliams and the Washington Wizards have signed a 10-day contract.

  Williams has appeared in nine career NBA games across three seasons.

  In 23 G League games this season, Williams is averaging 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 35.7 minutes.

• Mavericks Completed Anthony Davis Trade To Wizards Without Consulting Rich Paul

  The Dallas Mavericks negotiated Anthony Davis' trade to the Washington Wizards without consulting the 10-time All-Star or his agent Rich Paul, who remained unaware the Wizards were a serious suitor until the deal was finalized, sources told ESPN. The development concluded Davis' disappointing tenure with the franchise.

  Paul had actively worked to facilitate alternative transactions with the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors before the Washington deal materialized. The Klutch Sports CEO attempted positioning his client for scenarios that would preserve extension eligibility and maximize Davis' market value heading into the summer.

  Discussions with the Hawks went dormant after Davis suffered hand ligament damage during a January 8 loss to Utah. The Mavericks announced that injury would heal by late February, but Atlanta's interest cooled following the setback.

  Toronto remained in consideration, but Dallas would have needed to absorb significant salary beyond this season in any Raptors deal. That financial commitment made Toronto an impractical partner for the Mavericks' salary-cutting objectives.

  Dallas acquired approximately $150 million in financial relief, Oklahoma City's 2026 first-round pick, and Golden State's top-20 protected 2030 selection in the Washington transaction. The Mavericks included guards D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum to complete the deal.

  Owner Patrick Dumont reportedly harbored concerns about fan reaction to a return package lacking premium assets or long-term pieces, sources said. However, rookie Cooper Flagg's exceptional production generated patience among supporters.

  The franchise reduced its payroll from an estimated $326 million including luxury tax to roughly half that amount. Dallas gained access to a $15.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception and a nearly $21 million trade exception.

  Davis played just 29 regular-season games plus two play-in appearances for the Mavericks. He appeared in only 20 games this season before the trade, hindered by multiple physical setbacks.

  The Davis-Kyrie Irving partnership that former general manager Nico Harrison projected would anchor championship contention for "three to four years" lasted less than three quarters. Irving tore his ACL in early March last year.

  Dallas explored trade scenarios immediately after firing Harrison in November with the team at 3-8. Davis' maximum contract, which includes a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, complicated negotiations throughout the process.

• Alex Sarr Out Two Weeks Due To Right Hamstring Strain

  Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr will miss approximately two weeks due to a right hamstring strain. Sarr is out for the Rising Stars Challenge as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.

  On the season, the second-year big man is averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. Sarr has shot 49.6% from the field this season, as one of the bright spots for the Wizards.

• Kadary Richmond, Wizards Sign 10-Day Contract

  The Washington Wizards have signed guard Kadary Richmond to a 10-day contract. Richmond is represented by Daniel Hazan.
  
  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.
  
  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.

• NBA Teams Push Boundaries With Aggressive Tank-And-Flip Approach To Rebuilding

  The NBA faces mounting concerns about tanking tactics as teams pursue an aggressive rebuild strategy that executives warn could undermine competitive integrity. League officials discussed the issue at a recent competition committee meeting, though no immediate rule changes are expected this season.

  "You've heard of Icarus and what happens when you fly too close to the sun," one team president said. "I think some teams are in danger of flying too close to the ground."

  The controversial approach centers on what executives call "the flip," which is acquiring star players during lost seasons while continuing to tank for high draft picks, then attempting immediate playoff pushes the following year. The Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz lead the trend after trading for multiple All-Stars despite holding bottom-tier records.

  The Wizards acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis in separate deals but have kept both sidelined. Young has not played in six weeks despite recovering from a quad injury with Atlanta. Davis, initially given a six-week timeline by Dallas, saw his recovery extended to 10 weeks after joining Washington.

  Utah executed a similar strategy by adding Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis. In his debut Saturday, Jackson scored 22 points in 25 minutes before being benched in the fourth quarter of a three-point loss. Teammate Lauri Markkanen, who scored 27 points in 27 minutes, also sat during crunch time.

  "Trae and AD plus a top-five pick in this draft, or Jaren and Markkanen plus a top-five pick and you have something that could be special," one Eastern Conference head coach said. "No stud from this draft and you have teams that are at the bottom who maybe can just get to the middle."

  Both franchises hold top-eight protected picks, creating powerful incentives to lose games. The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets appear positioned for similar flips, with the Pacers acquiring Ivica Zubac despite star guard Tyrese Haliburton's torn Achilles.

  After playing 15 of 16 games with the Los Angeles Clippers, Zubac was announced unavailable for upcoming contests due to an ankle issue not previously reported. The Nets retained Michael Porter Jr. at the deadline despite interest, prioritizing their rebuild trajectory over immediate returns.

  "You know what's ironic?" one Western Conference executive asked. "Charlotte trades for White hoping to use him right away, and they find out he's actually injured. And you have Utah, Indy and Washington trade for players and find ways to keep them out."

  The competition committee addressed these non-competitive strategies, but meaningful rule changes remain unlikely before next season.

  "You may think your fans are the toughest ones to answer to when you're rebuilding," one longtime league executive said. "But it's really your owner. And owners want to know when a rebuild will end, and it's clear some of these teams have a deadline."

• Wizards May Buy Out D'Angelo Russell; Waive Dante Exum

  Veteran guard D'Angelo Russell will not be required to report to Washington Wizards after they acquired him at the trade deadline. The Wizards will work with Russell on what happens next, as far as a buyout or staying on the roster into the offseason.

  Russell, who was acquired as part of the deal that sent Anthony Davis to Washington, has a $5.7 million contract for this season. The veteran guard then has a $5.9 million player option for next season.

  The Wizards have waive guard Dante Exum, who was also acquired in the same deal as Russell. Exum is out for the season following knee surgery.

• Wizards Expect Anthony Davis To Play This Season; Trae Young Trending In 'Positive Direction'

  Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said that he expects Anthony Davis to return to the court this season.

  Dawkins added that there will be a clearer timetable during the All-Star break.

  It was reported on Saturday that Davis would be out for the season with groin and hand injuries.

  "The plan for AD right now is to go back to Dallas and finish his rehab," Dawkins said. "During All-Star break, he takes another visit for a doctor. And that's a big appointment for us to kind of see where his progress is at."

  Dawkins also added that Trae Young, who is out with a sprained knee, will also be reassessed at the All-Star break.

  "He's still working on the court," Dawkins said. "He started doing 1-on-0, he started doing a little bit of more 2-on-2 type actions.... He's trending in a positive direction."