Apr 13, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (8) argues with an official against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Potentially Historic Trade Between Wizards and Raptors

Originally posted on Washington Wizards on SI
By Scott Conrad | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 12:23 PM ET

The Washington Wizards play their first preseason game on Sunday, a little less than 500 miles away. The NBA's worst Eastern Conference team in 2025 will look to do better, starting with an exhibition contest against the Toronto Raptors.

As the only team left in the league to play a preseason game so far, the Wizards will be a guest of the Raptors who are 2-1. Washington and Toronto both missed the playoffs last season. However, the Raptors were much closer to the play-in than the Wizards.

Perhaps a trade between these two could prove beneficial to both Eastern Conference franchises. Washington and Toronto have never done business with each other as the Raptors have not ever traded with the Wizards or the Charlotte Hornets, yet.

Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Wizards trade forward Kispert to Raptors for a first-round pick and player.

Both teams made deals last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Wizards brought on veteran guard CJ McCollum, and the Raptors added forward Brandon Ingram.

For Washington, they have plenty of swingman and bigs on their roster. A proven scorer like McCollum would be great but the veteran guard is also a free agent after this season.

The Raptors have Scottie Barnes and Ingram locked up with RJ Barrett, Emmanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poetl round out the rest of the higher paid players. A player like Washington's Corey Kispert could add depth to Toronto's bench and help space the floor on account of the Wizards forward's ability to make shots from deep.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Kispert could draw a first-round pick and an expiring contract from the Raptors in a first-ever deal between the two teams. One of two players could make the deal enticing for the Wizards.

One, Wizards center Alex Sarr's older brother, Olivier, is on the Raptors. Pairing the two siblings together may help last year's rookie feel more comfortable in his second year in Washington.

Two, David Roddy can make baskets from behind the arc. Roddy played for three different teams last season, but has shot a career best 37% from three the year before.

David Banks-Imagn Images

Both (Olivier) Sarr and Roddy have signed one-year, Exhibit 10 contracts with the Raptors. The appeal of moving Kispert, who has been extended through the 2028-29 NBA season, is the return of a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Washington has a pair of aging veterans in McCollum and forward Khris Middleton. Developing the younger core talent such as (Alex) Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly may be what the Wizards need to get better and make a return to the NBA Playoffs.

This article first appeared on Washington Wizards on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: