Wizards Notes: AD's Impact, Khris Middleton Update, Rebrand

The Washington Wizards are set to close out the preseason slate on Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans with one veteran trending in the right direction and more in the latest notebook:

Khris Middleton Update

Who ultimately plays Friday's preseason road finale against the New Orleans Pelicans remains undecided, but whether one familiar face makes his way onto the court is a question.

Head coach Brian Keefe noted that no final determination has been made about Khris Middleton's status ahead of Friday, though he is trending in the right direction ahead of the finale. Middleton was seen in uniform with the rest of the team during the open portion of Wednesday's practice, adding optimism that his first appearance is nearing.

Middleton arrived back in the organization midway through the offseason in what materialized into a multi-team trade that also resolved the D'Angelo Russell saga after sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies. Russell has since been waived and will play in China in 2026-27, but Middleton returns with the opportunity to play a notable role in the rotation. Head coach Brian Keefe pointed to Middleton as a key part of the Wizards' plans in 2026-27 with a chance for his role to play out in the regular season.

Anthony Davis Impact

The first two preseason games offered a glimpse into what the ten-time All Star adds to the Wizards roster on both ends of the floor. Davis' nine rebounds leads the team while he's added 13 points in 19.6 minutes while shooting 47.4% from the floor and splitting his pair of three point attempts.

The arrival of Davis, then Deandre Ayton, allows the Wizards to deploy its double big lineups that inspire confidence for a much needed defensive turnaround in 2026-27. Trae Young knows there are things he can do to mitigate likely being the weak link on defense with Davis adding the Wizards can employ tactics "to protect him."

Yet the early feedback surrounding the added size along the roster has matched the offseason buzz with Davis admitting the personnel allows the roster, "a lot of things that we can do defensively."

"We are a very tall team. Our wingspans are very long. It's going to be tough for offenses to score on our defense. We're constantly putting in different things, new lineups, different switches."

Rebrand Coming in 2027

The Athletic dove into the ongoing fan discussion surrounding a potential rebuild for the franchise, signaling a new era with multiple headline pieces along a roster now aspiring for more than the last five seasons. Yet the Wizards remain in the midst of construction for Capital One Arena that is expected to be completed by the start of the 2027-28 season -- which could give a potential timeframe for when a change could come.

President and Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Zach Leonsis admitted during a 106.7 interview on Wednesday that the organization can "hear our fans," enough to re-evaluate a potential decision. Leonsis added that the earliest plans for a rebrand can materialize is the start of the 2027-28 season, comments that come days after the team featured the 'W' logo on its social media channel.