Will Dawkins

Will Dawkins is an American basketball executive who is currently the general manager for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began his executive career with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008 before being hired by the Wizards as the team's general manager in 2023.

Will Dawkins
Washington Wizards
PositionGeneral Manager
LeagueNBA
Personal information
BornSpringfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career information
High schoolHigh School of Commerce
(Springfield, Massachusetts)
College
Career history
2020–2023Oklahoma City Thunder (vice president of basketball operations)
2023–presentWashington Wizards

Executive career

Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2023)

Starting off as a front office intern, Dawkins held numerous roles with the Thunder as an assistant video coordinator, scouting coordinator, and as the director of college player personnel. After serving three seasons as the Vice President of Identification & Intelligence, Dawkins was promoted as the team's Vice President of Basketball Operations ahead of the 2020–21 season. He joined Rob Hennigan, another Emerson College graduate, under general manager Sam Presti. In his role, Dawkins assisted in roster and staff development, strategic planning, and player evaluations and acquisitions.[1]

Dawkins traded veterans Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porziņģis to transition into a rebuilding phase.

Washington Wizards (2023–present)

On June 8, 2023, the Washington Wizards named Dawkins as the newest general manager following Michael Winger's hiring as the president of Monumental Basketball, which overlooked the Wizards.[2] Dawkins and Winger previously worked together with the Thunder from 2010 until 2017 when Winger joined the LA Clippers.[3]

Entering the 2023 NBA draft, the Wizards began transitioning into a rebuilding phase after missing the playoffs four times in five years. Following a report that the Wizards were exploring the possibility of trading Bradley Beal, Dawkins completed his first trade by trading Beal in a blockbuster deal to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Chris Paul along with four first-round pick swaps and six second-round draft picks.[4][5][6] Dawkins continued to revamp the roster, trading Kristaps Porziņģis to the Boston Celtics and re-routing Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole.[7][8] On draft night, Dawkins acquired the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly, the 7th overall pick, in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. Dawkins ended his first draft night with Coulibaly and Tristan Vukčević, the 42nd overall pick.[9]

Personal life

Before joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dawkins played four years of basketball for Emerson College. At Emerson, Dawkins was named the Student Athlete of the Year in 2008 and joined the 1,000 point club in his career.[10]

References
  1. "Thunder Basketball Operations". nba.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  2. "Dawkins, Schlenk Named to Wizards Executive Team; Thompson Promoted to SVP of Monumental Basketball". nba.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  3. "Wizards to hire Thunder's Will Dawkins as next general manager: Source". theathletic.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  4. "Sources: Wizards to work with Bradley Beal on trade scenarios". espn.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  5. "Sources: Suns finalizing trade for Wizards' Bradley Beal". espn.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  6. "Washington and Phoenix have finalized the Bradley Beal trade, landing the Wizards six second-round draft picks and four first-round pick swaps, sources tell ESPN. Suns are sending seconds in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030. Pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030". twitter.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  7. "Grizzlies acquiring Marcus Smart in 3-team deal involving Kristaps Porzingis, Tyus Jones, sources say". espn.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. "Sources: Wizards to send Chris Paul to Warriors for Jordan Poole". espn.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  9. "Wizards Agree in Principle to Acquire Draft Rights to Coulibaly". nba.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  10. "Will Dawkins '08 Named Washington Wizards' GM". today.emerson.edu. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
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