Does Veteran Guard Fit as Wizards Final 2026-27 Roster Addition?

The Washington Wizards are less than 70 days away from officially kicking off the 2026-27 regular season, but a question still remains for general manager Will Dawkins to answer over the next two months: a finalized roster.

The Wizards still sit at 14 players on the roster for the upcoming season with all three two-way spots currently occupied between Jamir Watkins, Julian Reese and rookie Felix Okpara. The extended absence of Watkins has put a pause on what the team's final plans could turn into, though the Wizards have been linked to a handful of available free agents. One of those was Russell Westbrook, but he's officially off the market after electing for retirement over a reported offer for a second stint in Washington. While the Wizards are among the teams in the mix for veteran DeMar DeRozan,

who has reportedly drawn additional interest from the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, the list of available pieces the front office could pursue are dwindling. Yet there could be one option with NBA experience who can become part of the solution to fix the team's defense.

Veteran Bruce Brown is not expected to return to the Denver Nuggets for a second season. This comes off a season where he averaged one steal per game, the first time he's done so since 2023-24, along with 3.9 rebounds and 7.9 points in just over 24 minutes per game. The stats may not jump out, but Brown has also eclipsed a 110 defensive rating in each of his eight NBA seasons and is coming off a 115.4 defensive rating while averaging 1.7 steals during Denver's six-game run in the postseason. With Watkins sidelined, Brown offers a comparable skillset that alleviates the need for a second strong perimeter defender alongside Bilal Coulibaly. After all, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray pointed to Brown as the team's best defender.

Another bonus is Brown is coming off a 2025-26 season where he started in only four games, but also appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career. For a Wizards team coming off a 2025-26 regular season that saw multiple impact pieces sidelined, coupled with durability questions surrounding Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr entering the season coming off surgery for a fractured right foot that has left him in a boot nearly all offseason, Brown's added durability serves as a plus. As the final piece on the roster, Brown's role likely would be similar to his last two seasons between stints with the Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors with a chance to play situational minutes in the Wizards' backcourt.

Though it would mark a shift from the initial preference that the Wizards are eyeing a veteran point guard to finalize the backcourt, the razor thin market may not offer that. Reece Beekman, of course, remains an option if the preference is a point guard, though he doesn't fill the veteran tag given he's played just 36 games in the NBA, most recently in 2024-25. Brown, at least, adds confidence that the Wizards can change the narrative defensively in 2026-27.