Washington Wizards Woes Worsen

The Washington Wizards are approaching the season’s mid-point with an abysmal 6-32 record, the worst in the NBA. 

The Washington Wizards’ 15-67 record last season was disappointing, and despite the many new faces on the roster and coaching staff, they have regressed severely. Following Head Coach Wes Unseld Jr.’s departure, the front office began to clean house, only keeping eventual Head Coach Brian Keefe and top assistant David Vanterpool on the coaching staff. Two starters from last season, forward Deni Avdija and point guard Tyus Jones, also moved on to new teams.Β 

This partial reset has led some to believe the team is β€œtanking” and focused on developing its young players and drafting a star in the upcoming draft class. Vegas seems to agree with this notion, as the Wizards’ over/under win total this season was set at 19.5, which is an incredibly low line. For context, Washington is currently on pace to finish 13-69, which would be tied for the 10th-worst record in the history of the NBA. If the Wizards continue to tank, the oncoming draft class looks to be loaded, with some potential franchise players entering the league.Β 

Many have thrown around the word β€œgenerational” while discussing some incoming prospects, such as Duke forward Cooper Flagg or Rutgers forward Dylan Harper. With talent like this on the board, Washington’s front office likely won’t lose much sleep over the team struggling. While not the ideal situation for fans, landing one of the top talents in this draft can almost guarantee the franchise more success in the future, which is a worthy tradeoff for some. Regardless of the draft to come, Wizards fans have several new players to look forward to for the rest of the season and future years to come.

Washington selected center Alex Sarr, guard Carlton β€œBub” Carrington, and forward Kyshawn George with the 2nd, 14th, and 26th picks, respectively. Due to the team’s dreadful performance, the rookies have received a distinctive chance to play more minutes than regular rookies. With this unique developmental opportunity, Washington hopes it’ll pay dividends, with rookies eventually transforming into championship pieces. This influx of youth combined with the new coaching staff has sparked a flame of hope within Wizards fans, who hope these rookies can elevate the team in the coming future.