Julian Reese is finding himself as collateral damage this week.
The Washington Wizards power forward Reese was traded away by the team on Wednesday. Reese was sent to the Denver Nuggets as part of a multi-team sign-and-trade deal headlined by Peyton Watson going to the Cleveland Cavaliers (read the full details here).
But Reese will not ultimately end up with the Nuggets. Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Denver is expected to waive Reese off his two-way deal.
The 23-year-old Reese, younger brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, went undrafted in 2025 but eventually landed a two-way contract with Washington last season. He put up some respectable numbers in a semi-extended run for the tanking Wizards, averaging 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds over 30.9 minutes per game.
But Reese, a University of Maryland product, also displayed some moments of immaturity during his time in the nation’s capital. Most notably, Reese got a flagrant foul during a game in April after elbowing an opponent in the face (see the video here).
Now Reese will have to start all over again after being traded by the Wizards and being (presumably) waived by the Nuggets as well. Undersized for a big man at 6-foot-9 and also lacking a three-point shot and overall offensive polish, Reese may to have rely on his motor and his athleticism as selling points to a potential new team.
