
While it hasn’t translated fully into success on the court, it is clear the Washington Wizards no longer view themselves as just a rebuilding roster that is content with being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
By entering this season with their newly shaped roster built around Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Deandre Ayton, and AJ Dybantsa, Washington completely shifted the narrative surrounding the team ahead of the season.
They already have a solid roster, but there is another player the Wizards should have interest in that could fully propel the team forward. That player is DeMar DeRozan.
A strong case could be made that the Wizards may be the best spot for DeRozan since he could be a leader for a team that expects to make a sizable jump next season. If they add DeRozan, the Wizards would have a deep roster with plenty of scoring options, and would perhaps be the… pic.twitter.com/gwWykBy0OF
— Kalshi Hoops (@KalshiHoops) August 19, 2026
While DeRozan is entering his 18th NBA season, his production has remained consistent. Just last season on the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan ended up averaging 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game.
The Wizards could use that dependability on offense. While Young will be the main player controlling the offense, Washington asking him to create every shot would be unrealistic. By adding DeRozan, they would be getting a player who can organize second units and be a player who can manufacture the offense when things break down.
The biggest thing with DeRozan is that he will need to be interested in signing with the Wizards. There have reportedly been other teams interested in DeRozan that are solidified contenders entering the season, like the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Toronto Raptors, that would present more favorable odds to win a championship.
Teams with interest in DeMar DeRozan:
— SleeperCavs (@SleeperCleCavs) August 18, 2026
– Cavaliers
– Heat
– Nuggets
– Raptors
– Wizards
(via @BrettSiegelNBA) pic.twitter.com/YNzusoK3ep
While those teams provide clear paths to a championship, they don’t necessarily present pathways for playing time. The Wizards, on the other hand, have the financial capabilities and ability to offer clear playing time to make them a spot DeRozan could consider.
After a season in which Washington finished with a 17-65 record, the Wizards are looking to turn things around quickly. For DeRozan, he could just end up being the player that helps solidify their turnaround for the 2026 season. His experience would also help provide Washington with a mentor for younger players like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington.
Overall, at this point in the offseason, the Wizards should be looking to do whatever they can to sign DeRozan.
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