NBA 2023-2024 Preview: Washington Wizards Finally Turn the Page

Who will succeed the Nuggets as NBA champions? Over the next month, our editorial team dives deep into all 30 teams in the American premier basketball league. Today, we focus on a franchise poised to begin a new chapter in its history: the Washington Wizards!

2022/2023 Recap: Another Forgettable Season

The Wizards once again missed the playoffs, and the play-in tournament remained out of reach. Wes Unseld Jr.’s team ended up in a disappointing 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Never firmly in the tanking camp yet not truly competitive, the Wizards quickly faded from most basketball discussions. Bradley Beal’s lackluster attitude became a recurring theme, with his forlorn expression on the bench becoming a regular feature in Washington’s games. Thankfully, to compensate for his lack of leadership, Porzingis and Kuzma stepped up their game. The Latvian even entered discussions for his second All-Star appearance.

For the rest of the season, the Wizards’ performance was uninspiring. Wes Unseld Jr. seemed to be losing favor with the fans, with questionable strategic decisions at times, and concerns over the development of young talent. Where did Johnny Davis, the tenth overall pick in the 2022 draft, disappear to? Why does Rui Hachimura seem to progress much more rapidly since his transfer to Los Angeles? Furthermore, his departure marked the last major decision made by Tommy Shepard during his tenure as Washington’s head. He was relieved of his duties in April, making way for Michael Winger as the new GM. It’s the end of an era and the dawn of a new one in the nation’s capital.

Offseason Moves

Departures

• Bradley Beal (Suns)
• Jordan Goodwin (Suns)
• Isaiah Todd (Suns)
• Kristaps Porzingis (Celtics)
• Monte Morris (Pistons)

Extensions

• Kyle Kuzma (4 years)
• Taj Gibson (1 year)

Arrivals

• Jordan Poole (Warriors)
• Patrick Baldwin (Warriors)
• Ryan Rollins (Warriors)
• Danilo Gallinari (Celtics)
• Mike Muscala (Celtics)
• Tyus Jones (Grizzlies)
• Landry Shamet (Suns)
• Bilal Coulibaly (7th overall pick in the 2023 Draft)

Washington Wizards Starting Lineup

Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

Bench Rotation

Point Guards

• Delon Wright
• Ryan Rollins
• Jared Butler (Two-Way)

Shooting Guards

• Landry Shamet
• Johnny Davis
• Patrick Baldwin

Small Forwards

• Corey Kispert
• Bilal Coulibaly
• Eugene Omoruyi (Two-Way)

Power Forwards

• Danilo Gallinari
• Anthony Gill
• Xavier Cooks

Centers

• Mike Muscala
• Taj Gibson

Weaknesses/Strengths Analysis:

Weakness

Lack of Interior Presence and Defense This summer, the Wizards hit the reset button, which involved sending high-paying players elsewhere without necessarily considering the profile of the return, as long as they were young. While Bradley Beal’s departure is somewhat compensated in terms of offensive talent in the backcourt, Porzingis leaves a massive void in the paint. Neither Gafford, Muscala, nor Taj Gibson are starting-caliber centers for a serious NBA team. The interior will likely be dominated by any reasonably cohesive frontcourt. Another issue caused by Porzingis’ departure is the absence of someone to provide second-line defensive support for the backcourt’s defensive lapses. Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole are far from being defensive specialists, which could lead to Washington conceding a high number of points on a nightly basis.

Strength

Abundance of Shooters While the defense is expected to be a challenge, the offense looks promising. In this team, most players are at least decent shooters. Corey Kispert, in particular, made significant progress in this area last season, increasing his three-point shooting percentage from 35% to 42%. Similarly, players like Shamet, Gallinari, Muscala, and Kuzma cannot be left open from beyond the arc. With the precise playmaking of Tyus Jones and the spacing provided by Jordan Poole, Washington’s offense should operate fairly well. Of course, this depends on Wes Unseld Jr’s ability to create effective systems to exploit this shooting advantage.

Player to Watch: Jordan Poole

Several players are poised to seize the opportunity to prove themselves this season, and Jordan Poole is perhaps the one with the most skeptics to silence. Forever the sixth man for Golden State, he now has all the cards in his hand. At 24 years old, he must demonstrate what he’s capable of when installed as a starter. Above all, he needs to showcase his immense talent and justify his substantial contract. As is customary with Jordan Poole, there won’t be any middle ground. Already averaging 20 points per game with the Warriors, he could very well become the leader of this team. Or he could squander possessions and frustrate teammates and fans alike. To avoid this catastrophic scenario, he will need to show maturity and humility to make his teammates better, as any true leader would. It won’t be an easy task.

Season Prediction: 13th in the Eastern Conference

This season’s 13th place will not be the same as last year’s. Partly because the new management seems fed up with mediocrity. This means that any reasonably performing player may be asked to pack their bags in exchange for some draft picks. Therefore, we shouldn’t necessarily get too attached to Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, or even Kyle Kuzma, as they could be traded during the season. Moreover, this roster has the potential to surprise a few teams that may not be fully prepared at the start of the season. So, don’t be surprised if the Wizards start the season strong before gradually tapering off.