The Washington Wizards release its injury report against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, update on trade interest both to and from the Wizards plus Trae Young's impact.
The latest roundup as the Washington Wizards are back in action tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, the first of two matchups against them over the next week with the return matchup set for Monday, Jan. 19.
Injury report...For the second consecutive game, the injury report for the Washington Wizards remains the same with a pair of absences. Cam Whitmore remains sidelined with right shoulder deep vein thrombosis. Whitmore has remained sidelined since Dec. 4 against Boston. Trae Young, of course, remains inactive due to his recent quad contusion and ongoing recovery from a knee sprain with a timeline for his Wizards debut still unclear. Young is listed with both a right knee MCL sprain and right quad contusion, per the injury report.
The Clippers, meanwhile, will be without Bogdan Bogdanovic as he's been sidelined since Dec. 26 while both Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) and Kawhi Leonard (ankle) are questionable to play on Wednesday night.
More trade interest on the Wizards roster?...with the Wizards days removed from trading Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum in exchange for star point guard Trae Young, the question is whether there are more moves on the way. Brett Siegel of Clutch Points pointed to a trio of Wizards as ones to watch with Marvin Bagley III one who "could generate some interest" while also pointing to both Khris Middleton and Malaki Branham as potential trade targets. Middleton's mention isn't a complete surprise given he entered the season as one of the veterans to watch at or near the trade deadline alongside McCollum, though Bagley has had spurts to fill in for at times a depleted front court. While the former second overall selection didn't play in the first game following the Trae Young trade, a 21-point loss against New Orleans, he returned on Sunday as he posted six points, four turnovers and three rebounds in 16 minutes against Phoenix.
Kispert, meanwhile, has reportedly drawn additional trade interest since arriving in Atlanta, per Matt Moore of Harwood Paroxysm, though the Hawks view the Gonzaga product as a piece remaining on the roster for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Cross off reported trade target...Washington was also loosely tied to Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga heading into the New Year with teams continued to be linked to the longtime forward. But with the Trae Young trade, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line pointed to the Wizards as an unlikely landing trade partner after parting ways with Corey Kispert, who the Warriors have apparently liked for years. Sacramento becomes the latest team linked to the Warriors forward with reports that the Mavericks and Suns have also moved on from his situation.
Kyshawn on Trae...while all eyes sit on when he makes his debut, it's clear Trae Young will be able to make an impact on a young Wizards roster. Along with a need to add a point guard, Young adds a different level of playmaking that was initially lacking on the Wizards' roster. Head coach Brian Keefe pointed to Young being able to co-exist with second-year point guard Bub Carrington with the Baltimore native also able to play off the ball, but there's an added recognition that Young's on-court presence will give the Wizards another dimension to accelerate the young group's development. George explained how Young can impact the rest of the roster on an appearance with NBA TV.