Reports: Wizards buyout Smart, waive Wesley
With a roster so depleted they had to sign Reyne Smith overnight to give them seven healthy bodies they were willing to play, the Wizards outscored the New York Knicks 34-22 in the final quarter to depart Las Vegas with a 94-85 victory.
Washington finishes Summer League 2-3. The Knicks fell to 1-4.
Several Wizards players made the most of their extended playing time:
- Second round pick Jamir Watkins produced five more steals, running his Summer League total to 20. Oklahoma City’s Brooks Barnhizer now needs six steals to take Watkins crown as Summer League Steals King. Watkins also scored 23 points to go with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 turnovers.
- Dillon Jones scored 25 points on 13 shots and produced 11 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals. He’d been having a rough week in Vegas, but was excellent against the Knicks.
- Keshon Gilbert had 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and consistently generated paint touches with his frequent drives. Interesting stat for a guard: zero three-point attempts — not just against the Knicks, but across all three summer league games. I could see him as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency NBA point guard in a couple years.
- Akoldah Gak, who I’d seen listed as a 6-11 wing (something I don’t see in the numbers or in watching him play), got minutes at center for the shorthanded Wizards. That was interesting. He was effective as a high post hand-off and passing hub, and he finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and zero turnovers. He’s slender and already 23 years old, but if he can get stronger, I could see him long-term as a backup five.
The bigger news came off the court in the form of reports from Shams Charania and Michael Scotto.
Shortly before final buzzer, Charania reported that Marcus Smart has accepted a buyout and will sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
BREAKING: Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. A return to a grand stage for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/8g9Bxzz11E
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2025
Scotto tweeted that Washington has waived Blake Wesley.
The Washington Wizards have waived Blake Wesley, league sources told @hoopshype. Wesley, the 25th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs in the Kelly Olynyk trade.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 19, 2025