Over the past few years, the Washington Wizards haven’t given fans much reason to believe a playoff run is within reach. Since Bradley Beal was traded in 2023, the franchise has been rebuilding, struggling to win and sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
But this year gives fans hope.
The Wizards might not finish near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, but they have the talent to compete at a level fans haven’t seen in years. As of right now, the Wizards would make the play-in tournament, something they haven’t done since 2021. In fact, they haven’t played any postseason basketball since then.
Washington Has Built Something Real
Unlike recent years, this Wizards roster combines veteran experience with young talent.
The Wizards have already begun building a foundation of young talent through drafts. In 2023, they acquired Bilal Coulibaly’s draft rights from the Indiana Pacers. A year later, they selected Alex Sarr and acquired Kyshawn George’s draft rights from the New York Knicks.
However, the most significant changes came last season. On Jan. 9, 2026, the Wizards acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. Then, on Feb. 5, they added veteran big man Anthony Davis in a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite finishing 17-65, the Wizards had another reason to be optimistic. They won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, securing the first overall pick, which they used to select BYU star AJ Dybantsa on June 23.
Of course, having talented players on paper doesn’t guarantee success. But this combination gives Washington the foundation it needs to become competitive after years of struggling.
The Early Results Are Encouraging
Right now, the Wizards are 4-7, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference. While it’s still early in the season, there’s reason to be encouraged by what has been seen so far. Washington has already picked up wins against Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte and Orlando, showing that it can compete with different types of opponents.
One of the biggest positives has been Trae Young‘s ability to get his teammates involved. Through 11 games, Young is averaging 18.4 points and 8.9 assists per game. He’s already shown that he can be the primary playmaker this team needs, consistently creating opportunities for teammates while remaining a scoring threat himself.
AJ Dybantsa has also been impressive early in his rookie season. Through his first four games, he averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field. He’s already shown flashes of his scoring ability, including a 21-point performance against Orlando on Nov. 2.
There will naturally be growing pains as Dybantsa adjusts to the NBA, but his early production is encouraging.
Trae Young Gives Washington an Offensive Engine It Hasn’t Had in Years
Although the Wizards have made several moves to reshape the organization, acquiring Young was the most important one.
Fans didn’t see much action from Young in a Wizards uniform last season, as he appeared in just five games. During that stretch, he averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.
But the five-game sample only scratches the surface. Young can also transform Washington’s offense.
After showing significant improvement last season by averaging 16.3 points per game, Sarr could benefit from playing alongside a point guard who consistently creates scoring opportunities for teammates. Sarr already showed comfort in pick-and-roll situations alongside Jordan Poole last season. With Young, that two-man game could reach another level.
Sarr isn’t the only player who could benefit from playing alongside Young. George and Tre Johnson should benefit too.
Throughout his career, Young has excelled at penetrating defenses and drawing help defenders away toward the paint. When defenses collapse on him, he can kick out to open shooters. This season, George and Johnson could be those shooters, especially from the wings and corners.
The Wizards have a real opportunity to surprise people this season. They have plenty of young players still developing, veteran pieces in Davis, Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton and a point guard in Young who can control the offense and pick defenses apart.
After years of rebuilding, the Wizards finally have a roster that gives fans a reason to be optimistic about what comes next.
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