Montrezl Harrell has questioned the Washington Wizards’ roster construction, saying he does not understand the direction of the team and calling the group a “disaster” ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Speaking with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Harrell focused on Washington’s crowded frontcourt and what he views as a lack of balance around Trae Young in the backcourt.
“I don’t know what the hell Washington is doing, to be honest with you. It doesn’t make sense,” Harrell said. “It looks like a disaster.”
The Wizards entered the offseason after finishing 17-65 in 2025-26, but their roster underwent significant changes. Washington selected AJ Dybantsa first overall, added Deandre Ayton and acquired Anthony Davis, while also retaining young big man Alex Sarr.
Harrell questioned how those pieces can coexist.
“They got the young kid AJ Dybantsa, but he’s at the three. You bring over Deandre Ayton, but you already drafted the young kid Alex Sarr. Then you have Anthony Davis, but you have another center on the bench in Tristan Vukcevic,” Harrell said.
Washington’s current roster includes four players who can occupy significant frontcourt minutes in Davis, Ayton, Sarr and Vukcevic. Dybantsa, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-9 forward expected to develop into a major part of the franchise’s future.
Harrell also questioned the perimeter construction around Young, who signed a four-year extension during the offseason.
“Your only backup to Anthony Davis right now is Anthony Gill, and then you have Trae Young with no legitimate two-guard playing,” Harrell said.
Harrell identified Washington’s projected starting five as Young, Khris Middleton, Dybantsa, Davis and Ayton. That lineup would put considerable size on the floor, but Harrell believes the questions become more significant when looking at the rest of the rotation.
“But when you look at that bench, you can beat them with that every night,” he said.
Washington does have several young perimeter players, including Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Tre Mann. The Wizards also have veterans such as Middleton and Davis alongside their younger core.
Harrell believes the coaching staff will have an important task in determining how the pieces fit together.
“It’s going to be something where the coach is going to have to coach that team,” he said. “There is a lot of uncertainty down there.”
The former Wizards big man also questioned Washington’s potential in the Eastern Conference. While he left open the possibility of the team reaching the play-in tournament, he does not currently view the Wizards as a serious contender.
“Maybe they can get into a play-in situation, but I don’t see them being a crazy East contender,” Harrell said. “I just don’t know what their team identity is.”
Harrell is simultaneously working toward an NBA comeback. He worked out with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston Rockets’ G League affiliate, on September 12 and said the session went well.
The 32-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with Atléticos de San German in Puerto Rico, averaging 17.2 points and 10.0 rebounds in 29 games. He also believes his ability to set screens, roll hard and pressure the rim can still translate to the modern NBA.
