The Wizards declined their $2.15 million team option on Watkins' contract but tendered him a qualifying offer that makes him a restricted free agent, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports.
The Wizards will have the opportunity to match any offer Watkins receives on the open market, and Robbins noted that it's "highly likely" the 2025 second-round pick will remain with the club. The 6-foot-6 forward appeared in 50 regular-season games (seven starts) in 2025-26, averaging 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.6 minutes per contest.
Wizards' Felix Okpara: Heading to Washington after trade
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The Magic selected Okpara with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Wizards, Jeff Goodman of Fieldof68.com reports.
In exchange, the Magic received the No. 51 and No. 60 picks, the latter of which they traded to the Bucks for cash. Okpara spent his early college years at Ohio State before transferring to Tennessee. He most recently logged 35 regular-season games for the Volunteers, averaging 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.4 steals across 26.9 minutes per contest. The Wizards have Anthony Davis (finger) and Alex Sarr (foot) on the roster, meaning Okpara will presumably come off the bench. However, with Davis and Sarr having trouble staying healthy over the years, there's a chance Okpara could start some games for the Wizards during the 2026-27 campaign.
Wizards' Kyshawn George: More competition for minutes
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George's (elbow) role becomes less certain after Washington added another high-upside wing prospect in AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
George displayed intriguing playmaking ability and positional versatility during his sophomore campaign. However, the Wizards now possess considerable depth on the wing, including fellow talented youngsters Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly. George is currently penciled into the starting lineup, but his offensive opportunities may fluctuate depending on lineup combinations. The Wizards also just re-signed Trae Young (quadriceps) and will be welcoming Anthony Davis (finger) to the mix.
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Wizards' Bilal Coulibaly: Reduced role incoming?
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Coulibaly (heel) could continue to see significant minutes, though likely off the bench, after Washington's selection of AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
His defensive versatility and ability to guard multiple positions complement the team's offensive-minded players, giving him a relatively secure role entering 2026-27. The presence of additional perimeter talent may limit his scoring opportunities, but Coulibaly still projects as an important contributor capable of providing value through defensive statistics. During the 2025-26 regular season, he averaged 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks.
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Wizards' Tre Johnson: New competition added
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The arrival of AJ Dybantsa, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, creates additional competition on the wing, though Johnson (foot) should still maintain a decent role in Washington's young core.
The 2025 lottery pick showed flashes as a scorer during his rookie season and figures to remain an important perimeter option alongside Dybantsa, Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly. While touches may become harder to find on a deeper roster, especially with Trae Young around, Johnson's long-term outlook remains strong as the Wizards continue building around multiple young wings.
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Wizards' Alex Sarr: Role change unlikely
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Washington's selection of AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft likely won't significantly alter Sarr's (foot) role heading into his third NBA season.
The 21-year-old big man is currently recovering from foot surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp after averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 48 regular-season appearances last year. Sarr remains a major part of the franchise's long-term plans, although the additions of established veterans could reduce some offensive responsibilities. His defensive upside should continue to provide substantial fantasy value if he can stay healthy.
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Wizards' Anthony Davis: New teammate incoming
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The Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, adding another high-usage scorer to the roster alongside Davis (finger).
Davis remains a cornerstone of Washington's frontcourt and should be the team's primary interior presence when he makes his Wizards debut. However, playing with Dybantsa and Trae Young could slightly reduce Davis' offensive workload while improving the overall quality of his scoring opportunities. Assuming he stays healthy, and that's a big assumption, Davis still projects as one of the league's most productive fantasy big men.
Wizards' AJ Dybantsa: Headed to Washington as No. 1 pick
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Dybantsa was selected by the Wizards with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dybantsa has been on the national stage since his freshman year of high school, when he earned Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The 19-year-old forward is coming off an impressive freshman campaign at BYU, where he led Division I basketball in scoring and averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from deep in 34.8 minutes per game across 35 outings. His three-point shot remains a work in progress, though he's a versatile offensive weapon who can get downhill, score from mid-range and draw fouls. He also offers strong upside on the defensive end thanks to his size and mobility. Dybantsa has the tools to be a franchise cornerstone and figures to command a sizable role right out of the gate alongside Trae Young (quadriceps) and Anthony Davis (finger).
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