NBA Free Agency: Grading all 30 teams on signings and trades

2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Washington Wizards

Key Additions: Spencer Dinwidde (3-yr, $62 million); Kyle Kuzma (trade); Montrezl Harrell (trade); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade); Aaron Holiday (trade)

Brought Back: Raul Neto (1-yr, minimum)

Key Departures: Russell Westbrook (trade to Los Angeles Lakers); Chandler Hutchison (trade to San Antonio); Robin Lopez (Orlando); Ish Smith (Charlotte); Garrison Mathews (unrestricted)

The Washington Wizards entered the offseason in a serious bind. They needed a late run to make the playoffs last season, were summarily dismissed in said playoffs, and had an expensive roster pushing against the luxury tax and a star rumored to be considering a trade request.

Then GM Tommy Sheppard, aided by the request of point guard Russell Westbrook to go and play in Los Angeles, spun gold out of straw. When all was said and done he turned Westbrook and some second-round picks into Spencer Dinwiddie, who might be just as good as Westbrook at this point in their careers, four solid rotation players and Isaiah Todd (31st pick in the 2021 NBA Draft) via a massive five-team trade.

Dinwiddie is coming off of a torn ACL but showed he is a competent floor general prior to that. His shooting is a concern, but he is much more accurate off-the-catch and shouldn’t have to create his own offense as much playing alongside Bradley Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should start, while Harrell, Kuzma and Holiday are all useful bench pieces.

The Wizards are not suddenly contenders, and they dug themselves into the hole they leaped out of this summer. They traded John Wall and a first-round pick for Westbrook a year ago. Yet from where they started, the Wizards cast quite the spell (sorry) to turn into a team with depth, roster optionality and the flexibility to build around Beal or take the first step without him.

Grade: A