The Washington Wizards are quietly reshaping their identity, not with flashy youth or a superstar trade, but by loading up on seasoned veterans to anchor a rebuilding franchise.
With the recent trade that sent Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk, the Wizards’ starting five now looks more like a “2017 All-Star reserves” lineup than the youthful rebuild many expected.
The projected starting lineup heading into the 2025–26 season is:
PG – Marcus Smart
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Kelly Olynyk
C – Alex Sarr
Each of these names, aside from rookie big man Alex Sarr, has been in the league for a decade or more. The Wizards aren’t building a title contender this season. They’re playing the long game and using this collection of grizzled veterans as a bridge to a more promising future, both financially and on the court.
Marcus Smart, now 31, was traded midseason from Memphis last year and appeared in just 34 games due to injuries. He averaged 9.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 44.0% from the field and an impressive 39.2% from three.
Though still respected as a defensive stalwart, his availability has been a concern, playing only 54 games over the last two years. He’s entering the final year of his contract and could very well be flipped by the deadline if a contender needs backcourt depth.
CJ McCollum, age 33, is in the last year of his deal and is coming off a quietly efficient season with the Pelicans, averaging 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He shot 44.4% from the field and 37.3% from deep, proving he still has something left in the tank.
For McCollum, this year is about proving he can still contribute meaningfully, either to earn a final major payday or land with a playoff-bound team next summer.
Khris Middleton, acquired in the trade that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, exercised his $33 million player option this offseason. The 33-year-old forward is coming off his worst statistical year in nearly a decade, 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting a paltry 27.7% from beyond the arc.
Injuries and inconsistency have clearly caught up with him, and like the rest of this group, he’s playing for one last payday or redemption shot in free agency.
Kelly Olynyk, 34, has bounced around the league in recent years but remains a solid stretch big. Last season, split between Toronto and New Orleans, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, shooting an impressive 41.8% from deep and 50.0% from the field.
He brings leadership and shooting, both of which will be valuable for a young frontcourt partner like Alex Sarr.
And then, there’s Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and the lone cornerstone of the future in this starting unit. As a rookie, Sarr averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.8% from three.
He’s still raw but has all the tools to be a defensive anchor and multi-level scorer in the modern NBA. With Poole out of the picture, Sarr becomes the clear focal point for Washington’s developmental timeline.
They surely can’t be as bad as last season, when they had the second-worst record in the NBA with an abysmal 18–64 mark. This version of the Wizards might not contend, but with seasoned leadership and some young spark, they should at least present a more stable, competitive product night to night.
The Wizards also boast a collection of intriguing young talent — Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming draft, which could potentially be Ace Bailey if his stock continues to slide.
Any of these young wings or guards could push for starting minutes if the veterans are moved or sidelined.
The Wizards Will Have A War Chest In The 2026 Free Agency
Ultimately, the true genius behind Washington’s sudden pivot might not be found on the court this season but on the books. The Wizards are projected to have close to $100 million in cap space by the summer of 2026.
With Smart, McCollum, Middleton, and Olynyk all coming off the books after this year, the franchise will be in a position that very few teams in the modern NBA have: nearly a clean slate and a mountain of cap flexibility.
That kind of financial freedom, coupled with a few foundational young pieces and a war chest of draft assets, is the skeleton of a rebuild done right. The 2026 free agent class could include All-Star-caliber talent, and with the right pitch, Washington might become an unlikely destination, especially if Sarr or Coulibaly makes the leap.
In the meantime, the Wizards will lean on old legs to stabilize a young locker room, hoping that the veterans’ professionalism helps set the tone for a franchise with eyes on a much brighter, cleaner, and richer future.
