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"The overwhelming expectations still remains that Trae Young is going to remain in Washington. I’ve been told that he really relished the warm welcome he received there post-trade deadline, Fischer said. " ... I do think he’s got a lot of enthusiasm for what the Wizards could do next season with the No. 1 pick, with Anthony Davis healthy, with Alex Sarr recovering well from offseason surgery. "We’ll see what actually comes to fruition in Washington, but I have been told to consider Trae Young as someone who is very much on the trade market right now, at least a name that other teams are looking at the trade market as of now."
The Wizards have played their cards close to the vest over the past few weeks, taking their time with the process and evaluating all four candidates atop the draft. Washington has narrowed its focus to Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, sources tell me and Charania.
A league source indicated this week that Washington has already met with North Carolina wing Caleb Wilson, another likely top four pick. Wilson did not work out for the team but met with team officials.
On the U.S. Senate floor in Washington on Monday, Charles Schumer, Democrat from New York, said, “Tonight ought to be all about the game, the players and the fans. But Donald Trump wants to make tonight about himself, like he always does. “Midtown has to shut down. Bars near the Garden are about to take a huge hit on what should be their biggest night of the year. And free watch parties near the Garden have been canceled because Trump can’t bear letting anyone else be the center of attention for one night.”
Sources say that Washington is doing its due diligence and that the Wizards haven’t made a decision yet on who they’ll draft No. 1. But sources across the league believe that Dybantsa remains Washington’s most likely target. He is seen as having extremely high upside while also possessing a high floor.
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But we are uncovering contrarian opinions over the course of the last 48 hours at the NBA Draft Combine, when the front offices of all 30 NBA teams, players, agents, and media are essentially clustered in the same gym and hotel for the entirety of the day. First, as it relates to Washington, I asked a high-ranking scout on one of the other lottery teams if they considered Washington's selection of Dybantsa a certainty and if that would impact their own preparation. I got a more direct response than I expected. "Absolutely not," the scout told CBS Sports. "We were surprised the broadcast made it seem like such a foregone conclusion."
![“I doubt [Washington] decided who they want, just like …](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/content-pipeline-sports-images/sports2/nba/logos/26.png?format=png8&auto=webp&quality=85,75&width=140)
Ainge is operating under the assumption that everything is on the table, including Dybantsa. “I doubt [Washington] decided who they want, just like we haven’t decided who we want,” Ainge said. “We will figure out who is one and two on our board and be ready. There are at least two good players in this draft.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Gonzaga and NBA legend John Stockton in his lawsuit against the Washington Medical Commission and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General regarding doctors who were sanctioned for COVID-19 misinformation. The case is one of dozens the court declined to hear on appeal. The court did not elaborate.
Jenkins, meanwhile, has been floated as a potential candidate in Washington and Orlando as well — depending on what those Southeast Division teams decide for next season on the coaching front — after Jenkins’ full-season respite from the grind after his ouster in Memphis.
When I asked draft experts about young players who stood out for traits like kindness, curiosity, and emotional IQ—their niceness—Coward’s name kept coming up. He didn’t have a straight shot to the pros; he started his college career at a Division III school and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury right after he transferred to Washington State for his senior year. Coward’s mix of thoughtfulness and empathy in interviews conjures the picture of an “old soul.” He says that his parents and grandparents impressed on him the value of emotional maturity. It’s why he comes across as so grounded and why, even as a rookie, he’s been such a mood stabilizer for the Grizzlies. “For me, I’m always conscious of being emotionally aware but, at the same time, not forcing anything to happen,” Coward says.
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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday previewed an upcoming meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ahead of a planned vote on league expansion that could bring men’s professional basketball back to Seattle. ESPN has reported that the Tuesday and Wednesday meetings of the NBA’s board of governors next week in New York would include a vote on initiating expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas.
Wizards GM Will Dawkins said team officials have been in contact with D'Angelo Russell’s representation and that Russell will not report to Washington “as we try to figure out what’s best for him and us and our future.” Russell has a player option for next season worth $6 million, but Dawkins’ comment appeared to indicate that the Wizards and Russell could reach a buyout agreement.
Tim MacMahon: Wizards’ thought process on AD trade: With intent to be competitive next season, Washington added a 10-time All-Star big to pair with Trae Young without giving up homegrown young talent or premium picks.