The 2023-24 season was one of patience for the Washington Wizards, who faced a challenging 67 losses during the first year of their rebuilding phase. Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, who stepped in nearly a year ago, focused on reshaping the team by moving past players from the previous administration to usher in a new era.
Unlike the tumultuous previous offseason, the current offseason is set to be different as the team no longer deals with star players seeking transfers or the overwhelming prospects of a first rebuilding year. Nonetheless, challenging tasks lie ahead for Winger and Dawkins, including appointing a new head coach and making a top-6 draft pick.
Looking ahead, here are the key dates for the Wizards in the 2024-25 offseason:
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery, with the Wizards having varying odds for the top six picks, culminating in a guaranteed sixth pick if they are not selected in the top five.
- May 12-19: NBA Draft Combine, which will be attended by team scouts, GM Will Dawkins, and President Michael Winger.
- June 26-27: NBA Draft, where the Wizards will make several picks, including a top-6 first-round pick.
- June 29: Deadline to decide on Landry Shamet’s contract, which could lead to him becoming an unrestricted free agent if waived.
- June 30: Start of free agent negotiations.
- Â July 6: Official start of free agency, with potential moves including sign-and-trade deals.
- July 12-22: NBA Summer League, potentially featuring second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly and last year’s standout Tristan Vukcevic, alongside the 2024 draft picks.
- October 1: Training camp begins.
- October 22: The regular season starts, with the Wizards likely playing their first game on October 23 due to the lack of national TV coverage.
The Wizards are expected to have a relatively quiet free agency period, focusing instead on integrating and developing their young roster rather than pursuing major free agent signings.
