The Washington Wizards are giving up their first-round draft pick from Alabama

On By Yukito

The NBA team announced Saturday that the season opener is approaching on October 24, and the Washington Wizards have waived guard Kira Lewis Jr.

Lewis, a former Hazel Green High School star who played two seasons at Alabama, entered the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans with the 13th pick in the 2020 draft. Over his four seasons in the NBA, Lewis averaged 5.2 points, 1, 3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.

Lewis appeared in one of Washington’s first three preseason games. Lewis played 4-10, missed his only shot and recorded one rebound in Friday’s 113-95 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Because Lewis signed a Schedule 10 contract with the Wizards, the guard was able to go to Washington’s affiliate in the NBA’s Gatorade League, the Capital City Go-Go.

The Schedule 10 contract is a one-year contract with minimum wage and is non-guaranteed. If the player is not named to an NBA team, the contract includes a provision in which the player will receive a bonus of up to $77,500 if he spends at least 60 days with a team affiliated with the NBA Gatorade League.

Lewis signed with Washington after playing for the Houston Rockets in the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Former UAB guard Nate Darling of the Los Angeles Clippers was also released this weekend.

Darling played in two of Los Angeles’ first three preseason games. On the court with a time of 26:39 he had 13 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Last season, Darling played in four games for the Ontario Clippers in the NBA G League.

Lewis was traded twice in the 2023-24 season, going from New Orleans to the Toronto Raptors to the Utah Jazz, playing in 28 games and 10 games in the NBA G League. Lewis became an unrestricted free agent when Utah did not extend him a contract offer until June 29.

Lewis’ NBA career was cut short on December 8, 2021, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee in a game against the Denver Nuggets. To this point in his NBA career, Lewis had played 78 games. He has played 53 games in the NBA since his injury.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.