Could the Washington Wizards part with a second veteran ahead of the NBA trade deadline?
After falling by 14 points in Wednesday night's road game against the Los Angeles Clipper, the Washington Wizards dropped their fourth consecutive game and fifth since the start of the new year midway through the West Coast swing. Washington now enters Friday's game 10-29 overall, now sitting as the third-worst record across the league. With all eyes on the future while the fanbase has pointed to the need to retain the top-eight protected pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, the question is whether the Wizards are done making moves after acquiring Trae Young in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
With the NBA trade deadline inching closer and set for 3 PM ET on Feb. 5, ESPN pointed to another veteran on the roster as one to watch after looking around the league.
Bobby Marks of ESPN tabbed Khris Middleton as the player to watch in trade discussions, though there's been conflicting reports on what the level of interest is in the veteran shooter. Marks, however, pointed to Washington's inability to let cap space alter the franchise's direction, noting the team was projected to eclipse $80 million in salary before acquiring Young and his looming $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
Middleton, who joined the organization last season after the Wizards traded Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks, is on an expiring $33.3 million contract with Marks pointing to an additional $3.2 million in "unlikely bonuses that count toward the apron."
Middleton has been viewed as a potential trade target around the NBA with another report mentioning him as one of two Wizards to track alongside CJ McCollum. Brett Siegel of Clutch Points also pointed to Middleton as a potential trade deadline target on the Wizards roster, while Siegel also pointed to Malaki Branham as a potential mover and Marvin Bagley III as one who "could generate some interest" with the former Blue Devil flashing in his opportunities this season.
Middleton, meanwhile, was sidelined after a knee injury limited him to just seven games in December with the team 5-2 in his appearances.
Despite starting in all 27 appearances this season, Middleton is averaging single digits scoring for the first time since his rookie season as he currently ranks seventh on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per game.
As for the Wizards' first trade acquisition during the 2025-26 season, a timeline to return remains unclear after ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the organization is taking a "cautious approach" with Young expected to be re-evaluated following the mid-February All-Star break. Young has been ruled out with both an MCL and quad injury with the expectation that the new Wizards' point guard won't play much this season.
The Washington Wizards will return to action with tipoff set for 10 PM ET on Friday, Jan. 16 against the Sacramento Kings in a game featuring two of the worst teams in the league. The Wizards will close out the West Coast swing on Saturday, Jan. 17 against the Denver Nuggets in a 9 PM ET tip.