The Washington Wizards have the bulk of its 2026-27 roster already in place, though one outlet named three sensible trade targets for the Washington Wizards this offseason
The Washington Wizards have the vast majority of its 2026-27 roster already in place, yet Bleacher Report pointed to three trade targets who could make sense for the front office this offseason.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe was the first name mentioned as the former Arkansas product is coming off a career-high 11.1 points per game in 2025-26. A former second round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after playing two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe has settled into the Thunder rotation and averaging roughly 21 minutes per game in each of the last two seasons where his impact has been felt offensively. Joe has shot at least 44% from the field and 40% from three point in each of his last four seasons, including career-bests in both categories in 2025-26.
While a possible addition of Joe would add to the offensive firepower, it's a question whether Jaden Hardy would already be capable of filling the role that the Thunder guard would likely fill. Hardy was the only player to suit up for Washington in the Anthony Davis trade where he averaged 12.6 points on 44.3% shooting from the field and 42% from three in roughly 20 minutes and 23 appearances.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill was also mentioned after finding a consistent role in the rotation for the first time in his career. The last pick of the 2020 draft, Merrill is now in his fourth season with Cleveland after one season with both Milwaukee and Memphis where he's averaging double figures scoring for the first time in his career. He adds perimeter scoring to a backcourt that already has that in Trae Young, Tre Johnson and Will Riley alongside Hardy, though Bleacher Report noted Merrill is "a human inferno who exhausts defenders simply by pinballing around the half-court." How realistic he materializes into as a trade target could depend on what financial moves the Cavaliers opt to make this summer.
The third and final candidate is Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser, who could add versatility to a frontcourt anchored by two towering big men in Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis. Hauser has posted one season where he has shot under 40% from three as he's shooting 39.3% from deep this season, proving himself as a versatile inside-out scorer. Pairing him with Tristan Vukcevic could be a serviceable way to round out the frontcourt with a chance for the pair of upcoming second round picks a chance to stockpile talent, yet the question is whether Hauser ends up moving on from Boston, where he's spent all five seasons after becoming an undrafted free agent signing following the 2021 NBA Draft.