WASHINGTON — The Wizards approached the NBA trade deadline without any premier assets to deal and, consequently, no chance to land a massive haul.

But they remained active and operated with intentionality in each of their four trades. Every move achieved one of the Wizards’ future-facing goals: landing young players with upside, adding draft picks, creating long-term financial flexibility and acquiring high-character veterans.

Best of all, the Wizards did it without giving up any truly valuable pieces. Let’s dive into some notable aspects of the trade deadline.

The Kuzma trade was an inclusive process

A few weeks before the trade deadline, as the Wizards traversed California on a long road trip, it seemed unlikely that forward Kyle Kuzma would be moved.

But interest from the Milwaukee Bucks surfaced in recent days, according to a person with knowledge of the Wizards’ trade deadline strategy who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly. The Wizards felt they got a fair deal for Kuzma, who was averaging his fewest points per game since joining the Wizards in 2021 — and doing so on career-worst efficiency numbers.

At last year’s trade deadline, The Athletic reported the Wizards turned down an offer that would have sent Kuzma to the Dallas Mavericks. Among the deciding factors: Kuzma said he wanted to stay with the Wizards.

The person with knowledge of the Wizards’ trade deadline strategy said this year’s conversations similarly included Kuzma and noted the trade to the Bucks had nothing to do with the forward’s comments after a Jan. 25 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Kuzma said he played in the moment against the Suns. He defined that as “not trying to fit into what we’re trying to do here. Being more assertive. Demanding the ball. Not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game.”

AJ Johnson will need some time

Among the assets Washington received from Milwaukee was 20-year-old AJ Johnson. The 6-foot-5 guard was the No. 23 pick of last year’s draft — one pick ahead of Wizards wing Kyshawn George. He had played just seven NBA games, spending much of the season in the G League.

Because Johnson was so early in his pro career, the Wizards could rely largely on their predraft appraisal. A second person with knowledge of Washington’s trade deadline strategy said Johnson was among the team’s top 30 prospects.

Johnson offers explosiveness that lets him get into the paint, creating shots for himself and others. He does so with a skinny frame — he’s listed at 160 pounds — that requires projection. Those kinds of players need to develop and have a longer timeline to become productive pros.

Unlike a playoff contender such as Milwaukee, the Wizards can be patient. They put Johnson’s locker next to that of veteran Malcolm Brogdon, who has become a mentor for Washington’s young pieces.

Experience can aid youth

Valuing veteran voices for their young talent, the Wizards retained Brogdon. They also picked up two of his former teammates, who were salary dumps (to some degree) by their former teams but could be key voices in Washington’s locker room.

Forward Khris Middleton, who played with Brogdon in Milwaukee from 2016 to 2019, is an unlikely success story. The 39th pick in the 2012 draft, Middleton developed into a three-time all-star, an NBA champion and an Olympic gold medalist. The 33-year-old can convey, in words and behavior, what championship work ethic and habits look like.

Marcus Smart, who played with Brogdon in Boston in 2022-23, was a leader during his nine seasons with the Celtics and offers similar intangibles. Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla credited Smart, the 2021-22 defensive player of the year, with helping to start the team’s defensive culture.

It’s unclear how effective Smart can be on the court; he was hampered by injuries over the past two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. But his off-court impact could be as important for the Wizards, who hope their young perimeter players — including George, a wing, and guards Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington — become plus defenders.

Smart and Carrington might have some overlap in their personalities that could aid in that process.

“The energy that they have, the toughness — those guys are just gamers,” guard Jordan Poole said after Friday’s loss to Cleveland. “They want to make an impact on the game. They want to make plays on defense. They want to make plays on offense. They want to dive on the floor.”

Trading draft picks has gotten complicated

The Wizards acquired two first-round picks at the trade deadline. The first, the Grizzlies’ 2025 lottery-protected choice, came as a sweetener for taking on Smart’s contract. The second came from the Philadelphia 76ers for guard Jared Butler and four second-round picks.

Each team has its own draft pick valuation model, but part of the calculus involves the team’s salary cap situation. For the rebuilding Wizards, first-round picks remain the primary currency. But cap-strapped squads, particularly those above the first apron, may prefer having a mass of second-round picks to build out their rosters rather than singular first-round picks because the former offers significantly lower salary commitments, explained the first person with knowledge of the Wizards’ trade deadline strategy.

That’s especially true because of the restrictions on second apron teams, whose first-round picks seven years into the future are frozen. If a team stays in the second apron for two of the next four seasons, its first-round pick seven years out drops to the end of the first round or is the 30th pick.

The Wizards wanted to do right by Jared Butler

A player’s stats per 36 minutes aren’t always reliable, but Butler’s are staggering: 21.9 points and 8.2 assists with solid efficiency.

Still, the 24-year-old couldn’t find playing time among a crowded group of guards that already featured Poole, Brogdon and Carrington and now includes Johnson and Smart.

Part of the Wizards’ calculus in the deal was giving Butler a chance with the 76ers, who had long liked him, the second person with knowledge of the Wizards’ trade deadline strategy said. Notably, Butler’s best game of the season — 26 points and seven assists — came against the 76ers on Jan. 8.