Wizards releasing former first-rounder Anzejs Pasecniks

The Wizards will waive center Anžejs Pasečņiks, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. Pasečņiks had a partially guaranteed $350K deal with the club.

Pasečņiks was initially drafted by the Magic with the No. 25 pick in 2017, only to have his rights instantly flipped to the Sixers for future draft-pick considerations. The 7-footer remained in Europe, where he had been playing for Herbalife Gran Canaria in Spain since 2015, through the 2018-19 season.

The Sixers renounced their rights to Pasečņiks that summer. After he impressed the Wizards in their 2019 summer league, he was eventually signed to a two-way contract for the 2019-20 season, meaning he would split time between the Wizards and their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.

Pasečņiks appeared in 27 games for the Wizards during his rookie season, averaging 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 16.2 minutes. This season, the 25-year-old appeared in just one game for Washington.

The Wizards, who have not played a game since their 128-107 defeat of the Suns on January 11 due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, now have 14 guaranteed players under contract.