How Much do the Wizards Need Free Agents at Positions of Need?
How Much do the Wizards Need Free Agents at Positions of Need?
Fans of the Washington Wizards need to know where the roster's at its thinnest before they begin circling the best available hired guns.Henry Brown|
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Washington WizardsWhen most NBA fans see the Washington Wizards, they see a down-and-out franchise who'll greatly appreciate all that comes with AJ Dybantsa. The headlining prospect out of the 2026 NBA Draft has all of the makings of the kind of player who ends rebuilds; uber-talented with the ball in his hands and athletic enough to reset Washington's draft criteria, he'll unquestionably ascend into the face of whatever the organization has planned next.
But now that it's time to move past the NBA Draft and into free agency, those who haven't paid as much attention to Washington's margins have to actually take a look at Dybantsa's future supporting cast members, and they may be pleasantly surprised at their findings.
He'll be joined by a litany of fellow up-and-comers to aid Anthony Davis and Trae Young, floor-raising veteran stars who'll soon reveal that the Wizards' roster is more unproven than it is unimpressive. They need free agents as much as anyone coming off of a sub-20 win campaign, but let's make sure we're at least looking to make sure we're bolstering the most needy position groups first before blindly adding talent.
Where Should Washington be Looking for Help?
The Wizards went out of their way to assess their center shortage in last week's draft, snagging the 22-year-old Felix Okpara with the 46th pick.
He doesn't come close to rivaling Dybantsa in terms of upside and versatility, but his archetype as a rim-rolling big capable of putting his hands up on defense is one that's been known to flourish in a Young-led offense.
I like the Okpara pick. Solid 2nd round swing.
— Jim (@Wiz_Weekly) June 29, 2026
Has the size + length to play center in the league and can excel in both switching and drop coverage schemes. Limited offensively but good lob threat, great Gortat screener and offensive rebounder. Fills a need for the Wiz as well👍 pic.twitter.com/pmPCNKez1r
He arrives as a pure "need" pick, and that desire for front court help goes even deeper than unavailability concerns already posted by the presently-injured Alex Sarr and the legendarily-brittle Davis. The limited Okpara still has a long way to go before he's capable of playing big-league minutes, and even then, his second-string competition consists of the offensively-tilted Tristan Vukcevic and the similarly-inflexible Julian Reese.
The Wizards could have some cap space and multiple roster spots open should they opt to part ways with longtime veteran Anthony Gill and lingering trade chip D'Angelo Russell. Should they see fit to purchase a reserve big out of free agency, there are numerous veteran center options to turn to.
Marvin Bagley III is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular name uttered among the exploring masses. The 2x Wizard got better with each Washington stint, and his rebounding and defensive services are right back on the table following his inclusion in the Davis trade.
Even if they miss on the subtly-enticing Bagley, other alternatives present their own intriguing avenues. Shot-blocking extraordinaire Walker Kessler is worth a bid as a restricted free agent out of the Utah Jazz, while a respectable floor-spacer like Sandro Mamukelashvili, formerly of the Toronto Raptors, could extend the rotation with a sturdier iteration of Vukcevic's offensive package.
Where are the Wizards Deeper than Fans Realize?
Washington's crowded assortment of rangy wings takes up so much of the roster that their assortment of pure guards looks almost as top-heavy as the center platoon, at least at first glance.
Young will resume starting point guard responsibilities on opening night, just as the 4x All-Star has always enjoyed over after eight professional seasons, leaving Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington as the only "true" guards to spell his on-ball minutes. And given how unlikely they are to serve as sufficient defensive improvements coupled with the doubt attached to fringe names like Jaden Hardy and Cam Whitmore, it's easy to see how fans got caught up so quickly with rumors of Russell Westbrook's return.
Wizards have interest in signing Russell Westbrook this summer, per @TheSteinLine
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 30, 2026
The 82-0 legend.
For more: https://t.co/PjVo2QUNDa pic.twitter.com/uWJRDpRfmu
But this is where we have to remember who, exactly, the Wizards have along the wings. Pieces like Kyshawn George, Will Riley and, most notably, Dybantsa, are more than capable at dissecting defenses themselves and getting to their own shots, opening the door for Washington to tap into jumbo lineups whenever Young takes a seat.
They don't need another small guard to dribble the air out of the second unit lineups. The non-Dybantsa prospects need time on and off of the ball to develop, too, and the best way to do that is by giving the point-forwards their own occasional personal plays outside of Young's rigid structure.
Published 6 minutes ago
HENRY BROWNHenry covers the Washington Wizards with prior experience as a sports reporter with The Baltimore Sun, the Capital Gazette and The Lead. A Bowie, MD native, he earned his Journalism degree at the University of Maryland.
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GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. explains his 'mysterious' 4-month absence from Congress
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
6:30 PM – Tuesday, June 30, 2026
In an emotional speech on the House floor, New Jersey GOP Representative Tom Kean Jr. revealed the reason behind his four-month long medical leave from Congress, telling his fellow lawmakers that he was in the hospital for depression.
Kean (R-N.J.) disclosed on Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with depression following a hospitalization for undisclosed health concerns. He added that recovering from the mental illness has taken longer than expected.
“I am a private person by nature … talking about myself has never come naturally. But I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey’s 7th District, to my colleagues in this chamber and to the American people for my absence,” he began from the podium Tuesday morning.
“I was given the diagnosis of depression. It is physical, it is emotional and, until you’ve experienced it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.”
The 57-year-old has missed more than 140 votes during his recovery, amounting to a 100% absence rate, according to the website GovTrack.
“I began to understand not only my diagnosis, but how long depression had been affecting my life,” he continued. “When people hear the word depression, many people think it simply means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that.”
“When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself,” he said of the secrecy of his absence.
Despite feeling hesitant when his doctors recommended he stayed at the hospital, he shared that he was ultimately grateful for the decision.
“When I said I hope to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those were the best estimates that the doctor could provide. But as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery. Only the work of getting better one day at a time,” he said.
“Today I am grateful that I listened to my doctors … I am grateful that I accepted help. Because today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.”
Although Kean’s condition was not made public until Tuesday, the details were apparently known by Capitol Hill colleagues –including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — who said earlier this month, “I do know what his health issue is, but he’s asked me not to disclose that, and I’m going to honor that.”
Johnson also emphasized at the time that Kean’s absence is “not a scandalous thing at all,” telling reporters that “people deal with health issues. Maybe that’s a news flash for you, but even members of Congress get sick as well.”
During his absence, Kean secured the Republican nomination for a third term representing New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District after running unopposed in the primary. He will face Rebecca Bennett (D-N.J.) in November.
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These Whiskies From One of Scotland’s Underrated Distilleries Are the Perfect Summer Sippers
By Jonah FlickerJonah Flicker
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Fettercairn
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
Whiskey brands and distilleries make a lot of claims about how they taste, but sometimes it’s all about the power of suggestion. Did you really taste Christmas cake and treacle as you sipped that single malt? Do you even know what those things taste like? In the case of this new pair of whiskies from Fettercairn, however, the claims hold true—these two single malt scotches are bursting with tropical fruit notes, making them perfect summer sippers.
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Fettercairn, a Highland distillery that is owned by Whyte & Mackay along with the Dalmore and Jura, is relatively new in the U.S. The distillery has been around for about two centuries, but the whisky only became available here last year with the launch of 24 and 28-year-old whiskies, the latter of which we found to be exceptional. It’s less common for a whisky to launch with higher age-statement expressions like these, although certainly not unheard of, but at the time a rep for the brand said younger expressions would follow. Well, they have arrived in the form of 12 and 16-year-old single malts, both of which are full of bright, fruity notes that will appeal to both newbies and seasoned whisky vets.
The distillery attributes its whisky’s tropical fruit character to the way in which it is distilled and cooled. There is a copper cooling ring near the top of the still that Fettercairn says means only the lightest vapors rise to the top, and those are said to contain the particular flavors that define the new make spirit and carry over through many years of maturation. “That process gives us a beautifully light, tropical spirit to work with, and from there, it’s about shaping that character with care—preserving its freshness while building texture and complexity through maturation,” said distillery manager Stewart Walker in a statement.
WATCHIf these technical details are a bit beyond your pay grade, try the whisky for yourself to see what you taste. The 12-year-old is aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 46 percent ABV with natural color and no chill filtration. Look for notes of pineapple, banana, mango, vanilla, citrus, and ginger on the palate. The 16-year-old, also naturally colored and without chill filtration, was also aged in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at a slightly higher 46.4 percent ABV. There’s a bit more oak on the palate here, as you might expect, along with notes of papaya, ripe pear, green apple, custard, cinnamon, and milk chocolate.
Both the 12 (SRP $55) and the 16 (SRP $90) were released in late spring and are available to purchase now from retailers around the country and at websites like Total Wine. And you can still find the excellent (and expensive) 24 and 28-year-old whiskies at websites like ReserveBar.
Authors
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Jonah Flicker
Flicker is currently Robb Report's whiskey critic, writing a weekly review of the most newsworthy releases around. He is a freelance writer covering the spirits industry whose work has appeared in…
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