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Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#21 » by Chocolate City Jordanaire » Sat Feb 21, 2026 8:59 pm

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Such a smart deal. The Washington Wizards are signing two-way center Tristan Vukcevic to a new three-year, $9 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Team option in third season. The Wizards and the 7-footer's agent, Jason Ranne of Wasserman, reached the new contract Saturday.

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Vukcevic scores A LOT of points.

For all the hate he gets, he's scored in double figures in something like 7 of the last 8 games while playing 15 or so minutes per game.

Tristan is easily a 20 ppg scorer.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#22 » by closg00 » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:17 pm

nate33 wrote:
closg00 wrote:
nate33 wrote:I don't think this is desperation. There are plenty of available veteran backup centers this offseason. They could easily sign Bagley back, or Mo Wagner, or absorb Goga Bitadze off of Orlando's cap sheet.

I think they really believe in Vukcevic's upside. Or at the very list, think they can coach him up so that he is a value on his contract and could bring back value in a trade. They may be wrong in that assessment, but I don't think it's due to desperation.


At a minimum we had to lock him up, it remains to be seen who we will be able to get this offseason.

In an era where are supposed to be aspiring for contention, and in the Wemby era, it is shocking to me that we took no bigs outside of Alex, or a PF.

Were you upset that they drafted Kyshawn instead of a big? Would you rather have Jonathon Mogbo or Kyle Filipowski?
Were you upset that they drafted Riley instead of a big? Would you rather have Danny Wolf or Rasheer Fleming?

They went BPA with their late FRP's, which I'm fine with.

In general, I'm not a huge fan of using a good pick to draft a backup center. Centers take too long to groom, and most of them end up departing after their rookie contracts anyhow. Better to just find a free agent who has already gone through the developmental stage and has become a competent backup. You can always find a guy like Goga Bitadze or Jock Landale. Don't spend a good pick on a guy that will be useless for two years before he becomes no better than a Goga-tier backup.

(This doesn't apply to Vukcevic. They didn't spend a good pick on him. They drafted him in the 2nd round.)


Not disagreeing with your larger point. My larger point is that you don’t exclude adding undrafted Centers and Power Forwards to the mix on two-ways along the way, what are we going to do with all these guards? The Heat, Wolves, Jazz and Pelicans added Centers to two-way contracts.

Side comment, some thought we should have drafted Ware instead of Bub.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#23 » by closg00 » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:19 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:
Benjammin wrote:
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Such a smart deal. The Washington Wizards are signing two-way center Tristan Vukcevic to a new three-year, $9 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Team option in third season. The Wizards and the 7-footer's agent, Jason Ranne of Wasserman, reached the new contract Saturday.

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Vukcevic scores A LOT of points.

For all the hate he gets, he's scored in double figures in something like 7 of the last 8 games while playing 15 or so minutes per game.

Tristan is easily a 20 ppg scorer.


He is going to get better looks playing with Trae, and or a new backup PG.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#24 » by Chocolate City Jordanaire » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:20 pm

Benjammin wrote:Very little risk or cost and he does have some upside. DARKO statistical model loves him fwiw.

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leswizards wrote:I like Tristan, and I never understood the hate he receives. His per 36 over the last 5 games is ~ 27.5 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2 blocks on 60% 2PA and 40% 3PA.

I want them to experiment with him at pf. Can’t really do it this year, but maybe next season.
I also like Tristan. He can't be giving up more than he generates.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#25 » by Chocolate City Jordanaire » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:24 pm

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#26 » by Chocolate City Jordanaire » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:28 pm

Suddenly, Wizards' moves are applauded.

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#27 » by nate33 » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:31 pm

closg00 wrote:
nate33 wrote:
closg00 wrote:
At a minimum we had to lock him up, it remains to be seen who we will be able to get this offseason.

In an era where are supposed to be aspiring for contention, and in the Wemby era, it is shocking to me that we took no bigs outside of Alex, or a PF.

Were you upset that they drafted Kyshawn instead of a big? Would you rather have Jonathon Mogbo or Kyle Filipowski?
Were you upset that they drafted Riley instead of a big? Would you rather have Danny Wolf or Rasheer Fleming?

They went BPA with their late FRP's, which I'm fine with.

In general, I'm not a huge fan of using a good pick to draft a backup center. Centers take too long to groom, and most of them end up departing after their rookie contracts anyhow. Better to just find a free agent who has already gone through the developmental stage and has become a competent backup. You can always find a guy like Goga Bitadze or Jock Landale. Don't spend a good pick on a guy that will be useless for two years before he becomes no better than a Goga-tier backup.

(This doesn't apply to Vukcevic. They didn't spend a good pick on him. They drafted him in the 2nd round.)


Not disagreeing with your larger point. My larger point is that you don’t exclude adding undrafted Centers and Power Forwards to the mix on two-ways along the way, what are we going to do with all these guards? The Heat, Wolves, Jazz and Pelicans added Centers to two-way contracts.

Side comment, some thought we should have drafted Ware instead of Bub.

Ware was definitely on people's minds. I liked him if we drafted Sheppard or Castle at #2. But after drafting Sarr, I could understand them not pursuing another center with a FRP. It's hard to develop two rookies at the same position.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#28 » by WallToWall » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:34 pm

This likely means that the Wizards see him as having the capability to be an average defender. His offensive game is obviously there. Good for Vuk! 3yrs/$9M is a great value contract for the team.

Note: I see AD playing mostly as a PF here - the Wizards will grant him his wish. He will be a 3rd big at C, with Vuk being the primary backup. There is still a need for a 4th center of the "Goliath" variety, and a true PF. The PF may come in the draft.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#29 » by nate33 » Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:40 pm

WallToWall wrote:Note: I see AD playing mostly as a PF here - the Wizards will grant him his wish. He will be a 3rd big at C, with Vuk being the primary backup. There is still a need for a 4th center of the "Goliath" variety, and a true PF. The PF may come in the draft.

I see no reason to think that Vukcevic, on a minimum salary deal, will now be part of the regular rotation at center. I think Sarr and AD will mostly alternate manning the center position, with them sharing the court together for 10-20 minutes a game.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#30 » by AFM » Sat Feb 21, 2026 10:26 pm

He's basically getting minimum wage so I don't see a big downside but I'm a bit surprised too, I thought he was a goner for sure.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#31 » by PaulinVA » Sat Feb 21, 2026 11:50 pm

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#32 » by JAR69 » Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:29 am

Redraft the 2023 draft. Where does Vuc go? I’m thinking around 26 to 28.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#33 » by FAH1223 » Sun Feb 22, 2026 2:37 am

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#34 » by 9 and 20 » Sun Feb 22, 2026 2:42 am

I'm not a huge Vuk fan, tbh. Hopefully he crushes it though. In the long run, if we can trade him for a first rounder, I'd call that a win.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#35 » by DCZards » Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:04 am

JAR69 wrote:Redraft the 2023 draft. Where does Vuc go? I’m thinking around 26 to 28.
I just looked back at the ‘23 draft. Yes, Vuk would definitely be a late first round pick in a redraft.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#36 » by AWIZZINGBULLET » Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:32 am

I’m surprised that the board isn’t that excited over the signing.

If you know how I feel about Tristan Vukcevic, then you know that I can’t stand the guy. I know that he was a second rounder who showed offensive promise, but I could never for the life of me understand why people were so willing to look past the things that he damn near refuses to do at his size as a center.

Still as cushion-soft as they come at C, and the dude has the audacity to bark defensive orders at his young teammates as if getting them set.

I can’t appreciate this dude for anything more than being automatic points off the bench.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#37 » by Benjammin » Sun Feb 22, 2026 4:01 am

Maybe he's finally shown effort and commitment in practice? For basically a minimum contract guy you get a seven footer who can shoot and he still has some potential. That doesn't sound too bad to me.

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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#38 » by willbcocks » Sun Feb 22, 2026 4:08 am

He's been terrible thus far, but young big can also take some time to figure things out. I don't mind taking a flyer on the off chance that he does, but I have no expectations that he will.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#39 » by Kanyewest » Sun Feb 22, 2026 4:28 am

Anthony Gil era may be coming to an end.
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Re: Shams-Tristan Vukcevic 3 years 9 million 

Post#40 » by keynote » Sun Feb 22, 2026 5:23 am

I like it. Given all the offensive skill we now have in our front court, let's now focus on getting the best goon we can afford to be the first big off the bench. A modern Reggie Evans type. A stretcher 5.
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