RealGM Basketball Wiretap

02 February 2026

• Wizards Recall AJ Johnson, Skal Labissiere

  The Washington Wizards recalled AJ Johnson and Skal Labissiere from the Capital City Go-Go on Friday.

  Johnson is averaging 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds on the season with the Wizards.

  Labissiere signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards earlier this week.

• Trae Young, Wizards Mutually Open To Extension Or Using 2026-27 As Evaluation Period

  Washington Wizards guard Trae Young and the franchise are both open to a contract extension beyond his current deal, though both parties may opt for a mutual evaluation period next season, league sources told ESPN. Young holds a player option worth $49 million for the 2026-27 season.

  The four-time All-Star joined Washington in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks earlier this month. Young has averaged more than 25 points and 10 assists over the past three seasons, production no Wizards player has matched in a single season.

  Despite his credentials, Young arrives in a supporting role rather than as the franchise centerpiece. Washington views second-year center Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, as their long-term building block.

  "Trae understands that the team doesn't need a savior," Wizards general manager Will Dawkins told ESPN. "He's coming in to be a piece."

  Young embraced his new role when discussing his arrival in Washington. The 27-year-old point guard expressed comfort with not carrying the franchise label he held in Atlanta for five seasons.

  "As a kid, you dream about that type of title," Young told ESPN, when asked how he felt about not being cast as the face of the franchise in Washington. "But when you're here [in the NBA] and you're a part of it, you're a part of winning, you understand that those things don't really matter. I'm not a finished product. I know a lot of people may look at me like I am. But you've only seen me in Atlanta. You've never seen me anywhere else. So I don't really want to get into too many narratives and what people say, but it'll all be changed when I start winning games here."

  The veteran guard acknowledged his position as a bridge between generations. His experience could prove valuable for Washington's young roster while he remains in his prime years.

  "I came into a kind of similar spot that I did when I was a rookie, but I'm 27 now," he said. "I'm more mature now. It may look and make me feel like I'm older because I've been around for a minute, but I'm not. I'm young enough where I can relate, but old enough I got enough experience. So I'm excited to be around some of these young guys."

  Young remains sidelined with knee and quadriceps injuries sustained earlier this season. He is expected to miss time through the All-Star break as he rehabilitates.

  The Wizards are also managing his recovery carefully due to draft pick considerations. Washington retains its first-round selection only if it falls within the top eight positions. Otherwise, the pick transfers to the New York Knicks.

  Young's arrival represents the latest phase of Washington's extensive rebuild. The franchise has posted fewer than 20 wins in each of the past two seasons and has not finished above .500 since the 2017-18 campaign.

• Wizards Looking To Sign Walker Kessler; Jazz Confident In Retaining Center

  The Utah Jazz are confident that they will be able to re-sign center Walker Kessler this offseason, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Kessler, who is currently out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, will be a restricted free agent.

  The Wizards are reportedly planning to make a run at Kessler this offseason with the idea of pairing the center with Alex Sarr.

  The Pacers had also expressed interest in Kessler.

  Kessler was averaging 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds before the injury.

• Skal Labissiere, Wizards Signing 10 Day Contract

  The Washington Wizards are signing big man Skal Labissiere to a 10 Day contract. Washington has had an open roster spot since trading C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks for Trae Young. The Wizards are thin in the frontcourt behind Alex Sarr, with Nikola Vukcevic and Marvin Bagley III both out with injuries.

  Labissiere has played for the Wizards G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, this season. In 26 games with the Go-Go, the 6-foot-10 forward/center has averaged 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Labissiere has shot 55.4% from the field, including 44.1% on 5.2 three-point attempts per game.

• Wizards 'Not Necessarily Hitting Gas Pedal' With Talent Acquisition This Summer

  The Washington Wizards made a big move to acquire Trae Young ahead of this season's trade deadline. That acquisition, combined with a projected $45-$50 million in cap space this offseason, has many wondering if Washington will push to add talent this summer. Wizards president Michael Winger said that path isn't necessarily locked in.

  "We're not necessarily hitting the gas pedal," Winger said. "Whatever we do with that cap space - it might evaporate in the next two weeks, we just don't know."

  Washington has reportedly let teams know that they are still willing to take on unwanted contracts in exchange for draft assets and young talent. Khris Middleton's expiring $33 million contract could be involved in that type of transaction.

  As far as acquiring young talent, Winger also said that there is a clock, if an extended one, on the Wizards younger players.

  "We're coming upon a time in the next 6-18 months where we have to declare which of our youngest players can make material contributions to our eventual contention and which will make their most meaningful contributions somewhere else," Winger said.

• Wizards Granted Disabled Player Exception For Cam Whitmore

  The Washington Wizards were granted a Disabled Player Exception for Cam Whitmore, reported Jake Fischer.

  Whitmore was ruled out for the season due to a blood clotting issue earlier last week.

  The DPE will be worth approximately $1.7 million, which is half of Whitmore's salary this season.

  Whitmore will remain under contract with the Wizards next year for $5.5 million.

• Wizards Open To Taking Contracts For Draft Picks Before Trade Deadline

  The Washington Wizards plan to stay active in trade discussions despite acquiring Trae Young, with team and league sources telling The Athletic the franchise remains willing to absorb multi-year contracts in exchange for draft picks or young players. Sources described Washington as a potential salary "dumping ground for assets" before the February 5 deadline.

  The strategy aligns with team president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins' approach of accumulating future draft capital and prospects. Washington possesses several expiring contracts, including Khris Middleton's $33.3 million salary, Malaki Branham's $5 million deal, and Marvin Bagley III's $2.3 million contract.

  Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers and Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors represent examples of players on undesirable long-term deals potentially available. Grant, 31, earns $32 million this season with $34.2 million due next year and a $36.4 million player option for 2027-28. Quickley, 26, is owed $32.5 million annually through 2028-29.

  Complications exist with both situations, as three league sources noted Portland and Toronto seek packages that improve their current rosters rather than pure salary relief. The Trail Blazers have won 10 of their last 13 games and sit in Western Conference play-in contention. The Raptors occupy fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

  League sources believe Washington might pursue another distressed asset similar to their Young acquisition. The Wizards obtained the four-time All-Star for CJ McCollum's expiring $30.7 million contract, reserve Corey Kispert, and no draft capital.

  "They really didn't give anything up for the guy," one league source said. "He's a four-time All-Star. Maybe he isn't the version that he was, but he isn't busted, either."

  Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans emerged as a speculative target among league sources, though acquiring him appears an extreme long shot. Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors represents another potential distressed asset Washington might explore. The Wizards remain unlikely to add players blocking development for prospects Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington.

• Cam Whitmore Ruled Out For Season; Wizards Apply For Disabled Player Exception

  Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore has been ruled out for the season due to a blood clotting issue. Whitmore has already begun treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

  The Wizards have applied for a Disabled Player Exception for Whitmore, since he's now out for the remainder of the regular season. If approved as expected, the DPE will be worth approximately $1.7 million, which is half of Whitmore's salary for this season. Washington would be able to use that amount to sign a player to a rest-of-season contract with no options attached.

  In his first year with the Wizards, Whitmore appeared in 21 games. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 9.2 points on 45.6% shooting in 16.9 minutes per game. Whitmore will be under contract with Washington for $5.5 million for next season.

• Raptors Showed Interest In Trae Young, Could Target Ja Morant At Trade Deadline

  The Toronto Raptors expressed meaningful interest in Trae Young before his trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards and have now emerged as a potential destination for Ja Morant as the Memphis Grizzlies explore his market, sources said.

  Toronto was one of only two teams beyond Washington to engage in substantive discussions regarding Young before he was dealt to the Wizards. The Raptors have been characterized by rival executives as one of the most active franchises pursuing a significant trade acquisition ahead of the February 5 deadline.

  The franchise has also pursued Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks and Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings in recent weeks. However, their interest in elite point guards appears particularly strong given their pursuit of Young and reported monitoring of Morant's situation.

  The Raptors rank 12th in the NBA in net rating. The organization appears motivated to upgrade their roster with an elite talent to accelerate their competitive timeline.

  Any major trade Toronto completes would likely include RJ Barrett as the centerpiece going out. The Raptors would also need to include either Jakob Poeltl or Immanuel Quickley to match salary in a deal for a major con player.

  The emergence of Jamal Shead has been critical for Toronto's backcourt depth. His development has provided the Raptors with additional flexibility in trade discussions involving their veteran guards.

  Barrett has been productive this season but represents Toronto's most valuable trade asset with a contract that can facilitate a significant deal. Poeltl provides veteran presence at center while Quickley offers scoring and playmaking off the bench.

  The Raptors' aggressive pursuit of multiple high-profile targets suggests the front office believes the current roster is close to contention with one transformative addition. Their focus on dynamic point guards like Young and Morant indicates a desire to add elite playmaking and scoring to their backcourt.

• Trae Young Out Until After All-Star Break With MCL, Quad Injuries

  Trae Young is recovering from MCL and quad injuries on the same leg and will be re-evaluated after the mid-February All-Star break, sources told ESPN. The Washington Wizards are taking a cautious approach with their new trade acquisition as he works back from the injuries.

  Young has played in only 10 games this season and is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 28.0 minutes.

  Washington owes the New York Knicks their 2026 first-round draft pick, but it carries top-eight protection. If the pick lands within the top eight selections in the draft lottery, the Wizards retain it and the Knicks receive two second-round picks instead. This situation incentivizes Washington to finish with one of the league's worst records to preserve their valuable lottery selection.

  The Wizards acquired Young to serve as their franchise anchor, but his injury timeline means he will miss significant time during his first season in Washington.

  Young's absence allows Washington's young players additional development opportunities while potentially improving their draft positioning. The combination of tanking incentives and injury recovery creates a situation where the Wizards benefit from patience with Young.

  The 26-year-old guard has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season and becomes Washington's cornerstone as the franchise looks for its young core to develop. The Hawks declined to offer Young a contract extension in the offseason, which led to his eventual trade to the Wizards.

  Young is currently the 10th highest-paid point guard in the NBA based on annual average value. He is not expected to command a max contract on his next deal, sources say.