Washington Wizards DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared Butler is getting his contract converted from a two-way to a standard, two-year NBA contract. The former second-round pick in 2021 joined the Sixers at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Reggie Jackson and a 2026 first-round pick to Washington in exchange for Butler and four second-round picks. This year has been the best Butler's young career as he's averaging 7.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 rebounds across 11.8 minutes per game. While his role isn't quite guaranteed, he's set for bigger opportunities in the short term while the Sixers deal with injury after injury.

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot) will not suit up for Friday's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The veteran is back on the shelf after playing only three games following a 14-game absence due to a foot problem. Washington also has a game scheduled for Saturday, so it's possible Brogdon will be brought back into the lineup after Friday night. Rookie Bub Carrington and sniper Corey Kispert have a chance to play more with Brogdon out.

The Washington Wizards acquired guard Marcus Smart along with a 2025 first-round pick from the Grizzlies in a multi-team trade that sends two second-round picks to Memphis. Memphis is looking for roster flexibility with the move, and Smart will now join the Wizards backcourt that could definitely use some of his signature defensive intensity. Smart just returned on Wednesday night from a 10-week injury absence and played 18 minutes in the Grizzlies win over the Raptors. He went scoreless in that game and is averaging just 8.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 21.1 minutes in his 19 games this season. He could be an interesting fantasy contributor if he steps into a large role with Washington, but the Wizards' plans for the veteran are unknown right now since they were most likely involved in this trade for the draft capital.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (finger) will play on Wednesday versus Toronto. The veteran hasn't been on the court since December 23, so he'll likely operate under a minutes restriction. But with Desmond Bane (ankle) ruled out, Smart could see enough minutes to justify his presence in fantasy lineups against one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the Washington Wizards acquired guard/forwardKhris Middleton(ankles), 20-year-old guard AJ Johnsonand a 2028 first-round pick swap from the Bucks on Wednesday in exchange for forwardsKyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwinand a 2025 second-round pick. Since his season debut on December 6th, Middleton has struggled after undergoing surgeries on both ankles during the offseason. However, the 33-year-old could be a big part of the Wizards offense and will likely see a boost in fantasy for the rest of the regular season if he remains healthy.