- June 15, 1973: Hired K.C. Jones as Head Coach.
- August 23, 1973: Traded Stan Love to the Los Angeles Lakers for a 1974 2nd round draft pick (Truck Robinson was later selected).
- September 4, 1973: Traded John Tresvant to the Chicago Bulls for a future draft pick.
- October 9, 1973: Traded a 1974 3rd round draft pick (Earl Williams was later selected) and a 1975 3rd round draft pick (Bayard Forrest was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Walt Wesley.
- October 18, 1973: Signed Manny Leaks as a free agent.
- May 28, 1974: Selected Len Elmore (1st round, 13th pick), Truck Robinson (2nd round, 22nd pick), Dennis DuVal (2nd round, 30th pick), Stan Washington (4th round, 66th pick), Gary Anderson (5th round, 85th pick), Roy McPipe (6th round, 102nd pick), Tom Turner (7th round, 121st pick), Steve Platt (8th round, 138th pick), Mark Raterink (9th round, 156th pick) and Pete Collins (10th round, 173rd pick) in the 1974 NBA Draft.
- August 20, 1974: Traded Archie Clark to the Seattle SuperSonics for Dick Gibbs and a 1975 3rd round draft pick (Tom Kropp was later selected).
- September 6, 1974: Traded Dave Stallworth and a 1975 2nd round draft pick (Allen Murphy was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Clem Haskins.
- May 29, 1975: Selected Kevin Grevey (1st round, 18th pick), Tom Kropp (3rd round, 48th pick), Fessor Leonard (4th round, 71st pick), Rich Jones (5th round, 90th pick), John Garrett (6th round, 107th pick), Fletcher Johnson (7th round, 126th pick), Bruce Hamming (8th round, 143rd pick), Doug Brookins (9th round, 160th pick) and Mike Fahey (10th round, 173rd pick) in the 1975 NBA Draft.
- July 30, 1975: Traded Dick Gibbs to the Buffalo Braves for a 1976 1st round draft pick (Mitch Kupchak was later selected).
- August 28, 1975: Traded Kevin Porter to the Detroit Pistons for Dave Bing and a 1977 1st round draft pick (Tree Rollins was later selected).
- September 17, 1975: Traded a future draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for Greg Jackson.
- May 7, 1976: Fired K.C. Jones as Head Coach.
- May 28, 1976: Hired Dick Motta as Head Coach.
- June 8, 1976: Selected Mitch Kupchak (1st round, 13th pick), Larry Wright (1st round, 14th pick), Joe Pace (2nd round, 31st pick), Bill Cook (3rd round, 49th pick), Marion Hillard (4th round, 65th pick), L.C. Mason (5th round, 83rd pick), Pat Tallent (6th round, 101st pick), Ralph Vallot (7th round, 119th pick), Merlin Wilson (8th round, 137th pick), Clyde Agnew (9th round, 154th pick) and Mike Buescher (10th round, 170th pick) in the 1976 NBA Draft.
- September 13, 1976: Traded Tom Kropp to the Chicago Bulls for a 1977 3rd round draft pick (Steve Puidokas was later selected).
- November 15, 1976: Signed Bob Weiss as a free agent.
- December 13, 1976: Traded Nick Weatherspoon to the Seattle SuperSonics for Leonard Gray.
- January 20, 1977: Traded Truck Robinson and a 1977 1st round draft pick (Tree Rollins was later selected) to the Atlanta Hawks for Tom Henderson and a 1977 1st round draft pick (Greg Ballard was later selected).
- June 10, 1977: Selected Greg Ballard (1st round, 4th pick), Bo Ellis (1st round, 17th pick), Phil Walker (2nd round, 39th pick), Steve Puidokas (3rd round, 57th pick), Jerry Schellenberg (3rd round, 61st pick), David Reavis (4th round, 83rd pick), Bruce Parkinson (5th round, 105th pick), Ernie Wansley (6th round, 127th pick), Calvin Brown (7th round, 147th pick) and Pat McKinley (8th round, 166th pick) in the 1977 NBA Draft.
- August 16, 1977: Signed Bob Dandridge as a veteran free agent and sent cash to the Milwaukee Bucks as compensation.
- October 11, 1977: Traded Bo Ellis to the Denver Nuggets for a 1978 1st round draft pick (Dave Corzine was later selected).
- January 24, 1978: Signed Charles Johnson as a free agent.
- June 9, 1978: Selected Roger Phegley (1st round, 14th pick), Dave Corzine (1st round, 18th pick), Terry Sykes (2nd round, 37th pick), Rick Apke (3rd round, 58th pick), Lawrence Boston (4th round, 81st pick), Roger Dickens (5th round, 102nd pick), Archie Aldridge (6th round, 125th pick), Ed Hopkins (7th round, 145th pick), Nestor Cora (8th round, 165th pick), Tim Claxton (9th round, 181st pick) and Steve Connor (10th round, 197th pick) in the 1978 NBA Draft.
- June 22, 1979: Traded a 1979 1st round draft pick (Kyle Macy was later selected) and a 1980 3rd round draft pick (John Campbell was later selected) to the Phoenix Suns for Steve Malovic.
- June 25, 1979: Selected Joe DeSantis (2nd round, 44th pick), Andrew Parker (3rd round, 46th pick), Charles Floyd (3rd round, 66th pick), Lamont Reid (4th round, 88th pick), Marshall Ashford (5th round, 108th pick), Garcia Hopkins (6th round, 128th pick), Jo Jo Walters (8th round, 166th pick), Ray Hooker (9th round, 184th pick) and Steve Martin (10th round, 202nd pick) in the 1979 NBA Draft.
- July 12, 1979: Signed Kevin Porter as a veteran free agent and sent a 1980 1st round draft pick (Rickey Brown was later selected) and a 1982 1st round draft pick (John Bagley was later selected) to the Detroit Pistons as compensation.
- July 16, 1979: Tom Henderson signed as a veteran free agent with the Houston Rockets; received a 1980 1st round draft pick (Wes Matthews was later selected) as compensation.
- September 13, 1979: Signed Gus Bailey as a free agent.
- November 21, 1979: Traded Steve Malovic to the San Diego Clippers for a 1982 2nd round draft pick (Bryan Warrick was later selected).
- December 4, 1979: Traded a 1981 3rd round draft pick (Frank Brickowski was later selected) to the New York Knicks for Jim Cleamons.
- December 5, 1979: Traded Phil Chenier to the Indiana Pacers for future considerations.
- February 4, 1980: Traded Roger Phegley to the New Jersey Nets for John Williamson and a 1981 2nd round draft pick (Steve Lingenfelter was later selected).
- March 22, 1980: Signed Ron Behagen as a free agent.
- May 27, 1980: Hired Gene Shue as Head Coach.
- June 10, 1980: Selected Wes Matthews (1st round, 14th pick), Rick Mahorn (2nd round, 35th pick), Francois Wise (4th round, 81st pick), Daryl Strickland (5th round, 105th pick), Ken Dancy (6th round, 127th pick), Karl Godine (7th round, 151st pick), Rich Valavicious (8th round, 170th pick), Clinton Wyatt (9th round, 191st pick) and Don Youman (10th round, 207th pick) in the 1980 NBA Draft.
June 10, 1980: Traded a 1981 2nd round draft pick (Sam Williams was later selected) to the Golden State Warriors for Jeff Ruland.
- September 8, 1980: Signed Carlos Terry as a free agent.
- September 26, 1980: Traded Dave Corzine to the San Antonio Spurs for a 1981 2nd round draft pick (Claude Gregory was later selected) and a 1982 2nd round draft pick (Dwight Anderson was later selected).
- November 6, 1980: Acquired player rights to Austin Carr from the Dallas Mavericks.
- November 12, 1980: Larry Wright signed as a veteran free agent with the Detroit Pistons; received a 1981 3rd round draft pick (Mike Ferrara was later selected) and a 1983 2nd round draft pick (Michael Britt was later selected) as compensation.
- December 15, 1980: Signed Dave Britton to a 10-day contract.
- December 17, 1980: Signed Keith McCord to a 10-day contract.
- December 27, 1980: Signed Andre McCarter as a free agent.
December 27, 1980: Signed Anthony Roberts as a free agent.
- January 15, 1981: Signed Lewis Brown to a 10-day contract.
- January 17, 1981: Traded Wes Matthews to the Atlanta Hawks for Don Collins.
- June 8, 1981: Traded Elvin Hayes to the Houston Rockets for a 1981 2nd round draft pick (Charles Davis was later selected) and a 1983 2nd round draft pick (Sidney Lowe was later selected).
- June 9, 1981: Selected Frank Johnson (1st round, 11th pick), Charles Davis (2nd round, 35th pick), Claude Gregory (2nd round, 41st pick), Steve Lingenfelter (2nd round, 44th pick), Mike Ferrara (3rd round, 48th pick), Ron Davis (4th round, 79th pick), Garry Witts (5th round, 103rd pick), Robert Williams (6th round, 125th pick), Randy Martel (7th round, 149th pick), Mike Howard (8th round, 170th pick), Eddie Brown (9th round, 193rd pick) and Ralton Way (10th round, 212th pick) in the 1981 NBA Draft.
- July 23, 1981: Mitch Kupchak signed as a veteran free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers; received Jim Chones, Brad Holland, a 1982 2nd round draft pick (Mike Gibson was later selected) and a 1983 1st round draft pick (Randy Wittman was later selected) as compensation.
- October 19, 1981: Traded a 1982 2nd round draft pick (Derek Smith was later selected) and a 1984 2nd round draft pick (Steve Burtt was later selected) to the Golden State Warriors for John Lucas.
- October 24, 1981: Signed Spencer Haywood as a free agent.
- November 2, 1981: Bob Dandridge signed as a veteran free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks; received a 1982 5th round draft pick (Jerry Davis was later selected) as compensation.
- December 17, 1981: Acquired player rights to Ronnie Valentine from the Denver Nuggets.
- June 29, 1982: Selected Bryan Warrick (2nd round, 25th pick), Dwight Anderson (2nd round, 41st pick), Mike Gibson (2nd round, 44th pick), Mike Largey (3rd round, 58th pick), Dino Gregory (4th round, 81st pick), Clarence Dickerson (5th round, 104th pick), Jerry Davis (5th round, 112th pick), Byron Williams (6th round, 127th pick), Wendell Gibson (7th round, 150th pick), Ken Luck (8th round, 173rd pick), James Terry (9th round, 196th pick) and Donald Sinclair (10th round, 217th pick) in the 1982 NBA Draft.
- September, 1982: Signed Dave Batton as a free agent.
- September 29, 1982: Signed Billy Ray Bates as a free agent.
- November 16, 1982: Signed Carlos Terry as a free agent.
- November 18, 1982: Signed Joe Cooper as a free agent.
- January 11, 1983: Signed Chubby Cox to the first of two 10-day contracts.
- January 24, 1983: Signed Ricky Sobers as a veteran free agent and sent a 1983 2nd round draft pick (Sidney Lowe was later selected) and a 1985 2nd round draft pick (Tyrone Corbin was later selected) to the Chicago Bulls as compensation.
- March 9, 1983: Signed Joe Kopicki as a free agent.
- June 28, 1983: Selected Jeff Malone (1st round, 10th pick), Randy Wittman (1st round, 22nd pick), Michael Britt (2nd round, 32nd pick), Guy Williams (2nd round, 34th pick), Darren Daye (3rd round, 57th pick), Dan Gay (4th round, 80th pick), Robin Dixon (5th round, 103rd pick), Donald Carroll (6th round, 126th pick), Danny Womack (7th round, 149th pick), Bernard Perry (8th round, 172nd pick), Ricky Moreland (9th round, 194th pick) and Isaiah Singletary (10th round, 215th pick) in the 1983 NBA Draft.
- July 5, 1983: Traded Randy Wittman to the Atlanta Hawks for Tom McMillen and a 1984 2nd round draft pick (Tony Costner was later selected).
- July 11, 1983: Sold player rights to Dave Batton to the San Antonio Spurs.
- September 27, 1983: Signed Michael Wilson as a free agent.
- September 30, 1983: Traded Kevin Grevey to the Milwaukee Bucks for a 1984 2nd round draft pick (Fred Reynolds was later selected).
- January 19, 1984: Signed DeWayne Scales to a 10-day contract.
- June 19, 1984: Selected Melvin Turpin (1st round, 6th pick), Tony Costner (2nd round, 34th pick), Fred Reynolds (2nd round, 44th pick), Ricky Ross (3rd round, 53rd pick), Jim Grandholm (4th round, 76th pick), Colin Irish (5th round, 99th pick), Blaise Bugajski (6th round, 122nd pick), Tim Garrett (7th round, 145th pick), Darryl Odom (8th round, 168th pick), Mike Emanuel (9th round, 190th pick) and Glynn Myrick (10th round, 212th pick) in the 1984 NBA Draft.
June 19, 1984: Traded Tim McCormick and Ricky Sobers to the Seattle SuperSonics for Gus Williams.
June 19, 1984: Traded Melvin Turpin to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Tim McCormick and Cliff Robinson.
June 19, 1984: Traded a 1988 1st round draft pick (Harvey Grant was later selected) to the Philadelphia 76ers for Tom Sewell.
- September 25, 1984: Traded Bryan Warrick to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 1985 3rd round draft pick (Ken Perry was later selected).
- September 27, 1984: Signed Dudley Bradley as a free agent.
- February 14, 1985: Signed Charles Jones as a free agent.
- March 13, 1985: Signed Don Collins as a free agent.
- June 17, 1985: Traded Greg Ballard to the Golden State Warriors for a 1985 2nd round draft pick (Manute Bol was later selected) and a 1987 2nd round draft pick (Duane Washington was later selected).
June 17, 1985: Traded Mike Gibson and Rick Mahorn to the Detroit Pistons for Dan Roundfield.
- June 18, 1985: Selected Kenny Green (1st round, 12th pick), Manute Bol (2nd round, 31st pick), Vernon Moore (3rd round, 58th pick), Kenny Perry (3rd round, 65th pick), Richie Adams (4th round, 81st pick), Dean Shaffer (5th round, 104th pick), Matt England (6th round, 127th pick) and Keith Gray (7th round, 150th pick) in the 1985 NBA Draft.
- September 26, 1985: Signed Perry Moss as a free agent.
- November 14, 1985: Signed George Johnson as a free agent.
- December 27, 1985: Signed Freeman Williams to the first of two 10-day contracts.
- January 2, 1986: Signed Ennis Whatley to a 10-day contract.
- January 10, 1986: Traded Kenny Green to the Philadelphia 76ers for Leon Wood.
- January 19, 1986: Signed Claude Gregory to the first of two 10-day contracts.
- January 28, 1986: Signed Kevin McKenna as a free agent.
- March 19, 1986: Fired Gene Shue as Head Coach.
March 19, 1986: Hired Kevin Loughery as Head Coach.
- May 13, 1986: Signed Michael Adams as a free agent.
- June 16, 1986: Traded Cliff Robinson and Jeff Ruland to the Philadelphia 76ers for Terry Catledge, Moses Malone, a 1986 1st round draft pick (Anthony Jones was later selected) and a 1988 1st round draft pick (Harvey Grant was later selected).
- June 17, 1986: Selected John Williams (1st round, 12th pick), Anthony Jones (1st round, 21st pick), Steve Mitchell (2nd round, 36th pick), Dave Henderson (3rd round, 58th pick), Barry Mungar (4th round, 82nd pick), Paul Fortier (5th round, 104th pick), Lorenzo Duncan (6th round, 128th pick) and Joe Price (7th round, 150th pick) in the 1986 NBA Draft.
- August 8, 1986: Traded cash to the New Jersey Nets for Darwin Cook. Washington also agreed not to select Pearl Washington in the 1986 draft.
- September 3, 1986: Signed Jay Murphy as a free agent.
September 3, 1986: Traded a 1990 1st round draft pick (Willie Burton was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks for Jay Vincent.
- September 4, 1986: Signed Ennis Whatley as a free agent.
September 4, 1986: Signed Jim Lampley as a free agent.
- October 23, 1986: Dudley Bradley signed as a veteran free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks; received FROM_TRADE as compensation.
- October 30, 1986: Traded Leon Wood to the New Jersey Nets for Mike O'Koren.
- November 21, 1986: Signed Michael Adams as a free agent.
- January 6, 1987: Gus Williams signed as a veteran free agent with the Atlanta Hawks; received a 1990 2nd round draft pick (A.J. English was later selected) as compensation.
- June 22, 1987: Selected Muggsy Bogues (1st round, 12th pick), Duane Washington (2nd round, 36th pick), Derrick Dowell (2nd round, 37th pick), Danny Pearson (3rd round, 59th pick), Scott Thompson (4th round, 81st pick), Patrick Fairs (5th round, 106th pick), Dwayne Scholten (6th round, 128th pick) and Jamie Dixon (7th round, 150th pick) in the 1987 NBA Draft.
- October 7, 1987: Signed Dave Henderson as a free agent.
- October 8, 1987: Signed Tony Campbell as a veteran free agent and sent a 1989 2nd round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons as compensation. 1989 2nd-rd draft pick was contingent upon Campbell making Washington's roster but he did not do so
- October 16, 1987: Signed Bernard King as a free agent.
- November 2, 1987: Traded Michael Adams and Jay Vincent to the Denver Nuggets for Mark Alarie and Darrell Walker.
- December 22, 1987: Signed Steve Colter as a free agent.
- January 1, 1988: Signed Steve Colter to a 10-day contract.
- January 3, 1988: Fired Kevin Loughery as Head Coach.
January 3, 1988: Hired Wes Unseld as Head Coach.
- January 21, 1988: Signed Steve Colter as a free agent.
- June 8, 1988: Traded Manute Bol to the Golden State Warriors for Dave Feitl and a 1989 2nd round draft pick (Doug Roth was later selected).
- June 28, 1988: Selected Harvey Grant (1st round, 12th pick), Ledell Eackles (2nd round, 36th pick) and Ed Davender (3rd round, 60th pick) in the 1988 NBA Draft.
- September 7, 1988: Signed Mike Williams as a free agent.
- September 23, 1988: Signed Vincent Askew as a free agent.
- September 30, 1988: Signed Dominic Pressley as a free agent.
- October 6, 1988: Signed Charles Jones as a free agent.
October 6, 1988: Traded Jim Grandholm to the Houston Rockets for Cedric Maxwell.
- December 2, 1988: Signed Charles Jones as a free agent.
- June 27, 1989: Selected Tom Hammonds (1st round, 9th pick), Ed Horton (2nd round, 39th pick) and Doug Roth (2nd round, 41st pick) in the 1989 NBA Draft.
- August 8, 1989: Signed Melvin Turpin as a free agent.