Wizards 2025 Offseason Shake-Up: Marcus Smart and Blake Wesley Buyouts, Roster Youth Movement, and Veteran Roles Debated

Major changes are underway for the Washington Wizards as the team agrees to buyouts with Marcus Smart and Blake Wesley, trimming the roster to 15 players—11 of whom are now age 25 or younger. Smart, acquired in last year’s Porziņģis trade, struggled to find a trade suitor before signing with the Lakers, while Wesley departs without suiting up. The moves open up new opportunities for young guards AJ Johnson and Malaki Branham, clarifying their paths to real rotation roles next season. The episode also debates the roles of veterans CJ McCollum and Chris Middleton—should they mentor the youth or be featured more heavily? With the Wizards’ 2025 draft pick only protected if it lands in the top 8, the team faces a dilemma: develop young talent and risk winning “too much,” or bottom out for draft position, as losing the pick would be potentially catastrophic to the ongoing rebuild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices