RealGM Basketball Wiretap

05 December 2023

• Kyle Kuzma: We Can't Guard A Stop Sign

  The Washington Wizards snapped a nine-game losing streak when they beat the Detroit Pistons earlier this week. In Orlando on Wednesday, Washington went right back to their losing ways. The Wizards saw the Magic run away from them late in what became a 19-point loss.

  Following the game, Kyle Kuzma was asked how things got away from Washington. The Wizards veteran forward said it starts on defense.

  "We can't guard a stop sign," Kuzma said. "That's kind of really what it boils down to. We let anybody get whatever they want on us. So, until we change that, then that's probably going to be the result."

  The Wizards have the NBA's 30th ranked defense, with a 120.6 defensive rating. They are just behind the Charlotte Hornets, who have a defensive rating of 120.3.

• Delon Wright Out 4-6 Weeks With Sprained MCL

  Washington Wizards guard Delon Wright is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Wright was injured in Friday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

  Wright has averaged 17.8 minutes per game off the Wizards bench this season. In eight games this season, Wright is averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 assists per game.

• Wizards Exercise 24-25 Options for Patrick Baldwin Jr, Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert

  The Washington Wizards have exercised the 2024-25 rookie scale team options for Patrick Baldwin Jr, Johnny Davis and Corey Kispert. The deadline to pick up these options for next season is October 31.

  This is the fourth-year option for Kispert. Baldwin and Davis both had their third-year options picked up.

• Wizards Waive Xavier Cooks, Taj Gibson; Cut Roster Down To 15 Players

  The Washington Wizards waived Xavier Cooks and Taj Gibson ahead of the start of the NBA season.

  The Wizards now have a full 15 player roster.

  The team signed John Butler Jr. to a two-way deal earlier in the day.

• John Butler Jr., Wizards Agree To Two-Way Contract

  The Washington Wizards are signing center John Butler Jr. to a two-way contract. Butler spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way contract.

  Butler saw action in 19 NBA games with the Blazers. He averaged 2.4 points in 11.6 minutes per game. In his one year at Florida State, the 7-foot center averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

• Deni Avdija, Wizards Agree To Four-Year, $55M Extension

  The Washington Wizards and wing Deni Avdija have agreed to a four-year, $55 million rookie scale extension. The deal is fully guaranteed, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

  Avdija averaged career-highs of 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season. He's also regarded as a solid defender.

  Avdija's extension is roughly the equivalent of the four-year Non-Taxpayer MLE.

• Wizards Waive Hamidou Diallo, Devon Dotson, Malik Fitts, Michael Foster Jr, Gabe Kalscheur

  The Washington Wizards have waived Devon Dotson and Michael Foster Jr. from their Exhibit 10 contract. Washington also signed-and-waived Hamidou Diallo, Malik Fitts and Gabe Kalscheur.

  All five players are expected to join the Capital City Go-Go for the G League season.

  The Wizards still have to make two more roster moves ahead of the roster compliance deadline on Monday, October 23. Washington is currently carrying 17 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts. That is two above the regular season maximum of 15 players on standard contracts.

• Wizards Sign Devon Dotson; Waive Jules Bernard

  The Washington Wizards waived wing Jules Bernard. The Wizards filled the open roster spot by signing veteran guard Devon Dotson.

  Bernard was signed to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. He's expected to join the Capital City Go-Go of the G League for the upcoming season. Dotson will likely be waived from his Exhibit 10 deal at the conclusion of the preseason. He's likely to join the Go-Go, as well.

• RealGM Radio: Nekias Duncan, Mike Prada On The Southeast Division (Oct 2023)

  Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), Nekias Duncan of The Dunker Spot podcast (@NekiasNBA) and Mike Prada of The Athletic (@MikePradaNBA) break down the NBA's Southeast Division.

  They discuss how the Heat, Magic, Wizards, Hornets and Hawks fared in the off-season, including which teams improved and what moves stood out. The three also predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed.

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