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Wizards Waive 2014 Lottery Pick After Trade

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Wyatt Hartman | Last updated Feb 8, 2026 2:34 PM ET

The Washington Wizards made major headlines around the league, acquiring four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young and 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, overhauling their roster in just over a month. While the Young trade didn’t bring in anyone else, the Davis trade included multiple bench assets. With that, D’Angelo Russell and Jaden Hardy seem to be secure in Washington for the moment. However, former lottery pick Dante Exum got the short end of the stick.

Wizards Waive 2014 Lottery Pick After Trade

Washington brought in Exum from Dallas in their massive package exchange that saw nine players and five future draft picks be moved to new cities. The Wizards waived Exum just days after the trade, and unfortunately, this could be the end of his career.

The Wizards indeed have a serious overcrowding issue at the guard positions. Exum was the first to fall, but Hardy may not be far behind. Russell will no doubt see the floor, and Washington will keep sophomore Bub Carrington in D.C. Young and Tre Johnson already have their positions secured for the long term as the two primary guards next season. A total of nine Wizards are currently listed as guards on the roster; that number could be cut down tremendously before next season.

Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum (0) drives to the basket past forward Anthony Davis (3) and Toronto Raptors forward Garrett Temple (17) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Exum’s Problem

The fifth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has had one main issue since entering the league: injuries. Exum has only played in 320 games in his NBA career, spanning eight years. That’s only 48.8% of all possible games he could have played in, and it’s all mostly due to injury. While he could certainly provide a great boost to any team’s bench, it’s his health that keeps his market relatively small.

He’s only played over 60 games twice and missed his entire second season in the league due to injury. Exum only played 20 games this season before going down again, and it’s safe to say that Washington doesn’t need another injury-prone player on the roster. With next season looking like a potential finals run, the Wizards want to make the team as competitive as possible, and Exum can’t contribute while recovering from injuries.

Exum’s Contributions

Obviously, Exum can’t contribute to a contending team when injured. That being said, the guard is more than servicable when he’s on the floor. This season, Exum was having a career year, averaging a career-high in points, with near-best marks in multiple other categories.

Last season, Exum shot 50% from the field and 49.1% from beyond the arc. Injuries aside, Exum can produce when needed. He’s never had a major role, averaging over 20+ minutes in a season once in his career. However, he’s proven that whatever role you have for him, he can contribute effectively.

Is Exum worth the investment? Washington clearly did not think so. With all the time off, however, the 29-year-old could come back healthy and ready to contribute to a contending team. He could decide to make a comeback, that is, if any team will take the bait. If he gets an offer next season, look for it to be a one-year “prove it” deal from a team that could win even in his absence.

The Last Word

Exum’s quick exit from D.C is the first of what could be many for Washington. Hardy could be next to go, or they could pivot to trading some young assets in exchange for draft capital or another bench piece. Whatever comes next, expect it to be a move towards contending. The Wizards still have a little bit of roster building to do before becoming the true favorite in the Eastern Conference next season.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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