Washington

Wizards

The 26th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jones is on the move after one season with the NBA champions. He appeared in 54 games during the regular season, averaging 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 10.2 minutes. Being traded to Washington may give Jones a better shot at achieving fantasy relevance than in Oklahoma City. However, that is not enough to make him a player worth selecting in fantasy drafts.

Richmond averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game for St. John’s last season. He’s a poor shooter and struggles to score in other ways, but he is an intriguing prospect that can create for others and play lockdown defense. It’s unclear how he fits into Washington’s plans, but he’s certainly going to work hard for a spot in the rotation.

Utah made this selection, but Watkins will be headed to Washington once the teams’ proposed trade becomes official. At 6'5, 215 pounds, Watkins has excellent size for a wing to be a multi-positional defender in the NBA. He spent three seasons with VCU before spending the last two with Florida State, Last season, he averaged a healthy 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds. 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks. His three-point shooting is still underdeveloped, but he makes up for it with frequent trips to the charity stripe, averaging 7.7 FTA last season. Watkins’s most significant strength is on defense, but if he can improve his shooting, he’ll be a solid two-way option. While Washington is loaded with young perimeter players, the second-round pick’s defensive ability will give Watkins an opportunity to earn playing time as a rookie.

While Utah made this pick, it will be headed to Washington with the Jazz receiving the 18th overall pick (Walter Clayton Jr.). As for Riley, the 19-year-old forward showcased some intriguing upside during his freshman season at Illinois. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 three-pointers in 25.7 minutes per game. The numbers weren’t great, but the 6'9" playmaker could be an impactful player in the future as his development progresses. Defense wasn’t a strong point for Riley, and he didn’t contribute many steals or blocks, which is concerning for fantasy managers. However, he has the potential to be a dynamic offensive player as both a scorer and a playmaker. Riley joins a Wizards roster that already has some young talent on the perimeter, including Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington. With Khris Middleton also in the fold, Riley’s fantasy value may be limited next season.

While Washington made this pick, they did so for the Jazz as part of a trade that will be finalized in the coming days. Clayton Jr. left the collegiate scene on the highest note possible, as he led the Gators to a national championship and won NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in the process. Florida’s star guard finished the 2024-25 season with averages of 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.0 triples while shooting 45/39/88 splits. After spending two seasons at Iona, he ended his career with two seasons at Florida, where he flourished, earning All-SEC honors twice. Pop in the tape of Clayton Jr.’s back-to-back 30-point performances in the Elite 8 and Final 4 to see why he can make an immediate impact on offense at the next level. With Utah having selected guards in the first round of their last two drafts, Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier, adding Clayton to the mix does not bode well for either of those two. In exchange for this pick, Utah will send the 21st and 43rd overall picks in the 2025 draft and second-round picks in 2031 and 2032 to Washington.

There may not be a better pure scorer in this class than Johnson. He averaged 19.9 points per game for Texas last season, which led all freshmen in Division I. He did that as the focal point of the offense in a tough conference. The 6’6” guard boasts a 6’10.25” wingspan and won’t turn 20 years old until March. Johnson also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 triples per game. His 42.7 field goal percentage was subpar, but his 39.7 three-point percentage and 87.1 free throw percentage both showcase that Johnson will be a knockdown shooter at the next level. He can create his own shot and knock down catch-and-shoot looks, which makes him a versatile piece to add to any offense. Tre joins a rebuilding Wizards franchise that added three first-round picks to its roster last June. The natural scoring ability should mesh well with a team that is looking for a “No. 1 option” on offense.

Olynyk will head to Washington in a deal involving CJ McCollum, Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and picks. Washington’s frontcourt features Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, two players who the Wizards will surely prioritize developing in 2025-26. That means Olynyk could see rotational minutes off the bench or even be re-routed before the season starts. No matter what uniform he wears next season, Olynyk should have deep-league value thanks to his ability to contribute across multiple categories.

No surprises here, as Middleton will get fully compensated for the final year of the three-year, $93 million deal he signed with Milwaukee in 2023. Given his recent injury history and declining play, Middleton’s next contract will surely be far less than what he makes this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.

While Johnson’s inclusion in the Kyle Kuzma trade did not draw much attention then, the move east gave him a shot at consistent rotation minutes. The rookie guard averaged 27 minutes per game in his 22 appearances for the Wizards. While Johnson’s fantasy value remained extremely low, the chances of earning a rotation spot in Washington next season are far more realistic than they would have been in Milwaukee.