Last season, the Washington Wizards finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-65 record.
While calling them a potential playoff team may sound premature, this is no longer the same team they were at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Between the additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, a young core continuing to develop, and the addition of college sensation AJ Dybantsa, the Wizards’ future is beginning to look much brighter.
In fact, Washington’s blend of developing young talent and veteran all-stars makes them a contender for one of the biggest risers of the 2026-27 season.
Trae Young Flips Everything
The arrival of Trae Young has transformed the Wizards’ outlook.
Washington acquired the four-time All-Star midseason, adding one of the NBA’s premier scorers and playmakers to a roster that is starting to find its identity. Throughout his career, Young has averaged 25.1 points and 9.8 assists while also shooting 43.3% from the field and 35.2% from three.
Although he dealt with injuries most of this season, Young did manage to play a small amount of time with the Wizards. In the five games he played for Washington, he averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range, proving he can be a very effective offensive piece for them.
The Wizards, who have lacked a true floor general for years, are already beginning to benefit from Young’s presence. His ability to create offense for players like Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George would be significant for Washington.
Though fans only got a glimpse of what Young could do in Washington, there is a lot more he could offer. On June 22, it was announced that he re-signed with the Wizards on a four-year, $212 million contract with a player option in the final year.
The Young Core Is Getting Better
Another reason for the optimism is the amount of young talent on the roster.
Since entering the league in 2024, Sarr has shown clear growth. With averages of 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks, Sarr was one of the Wizards’ top leaders in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots in the 25-26 season.
Coulibaly remains one of the team’s elite defenders, but he has increased his offensive aggression, attacking the rim more often instead of settling for jump shots.
As for George, he has taken his all-around game to another level. This season, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.0 steals. He also shot 43.8% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.
To put it all together, Washington added an outstanding prospect in Dybantsa, who has clear All-NBA potential.
While most rebuilding teams rely on one or two prospects to reach high levels, the Wizards have a decent amount of young talent already thriving.
Anthony Davis Bolsters the Frontcourt
While the Wizards are focused on developing young talent, Anthony Davis’s presence cannot be ignored.
Even though Davis’ career has consistently been riddled with injuries, he has proven to be one of the league’s best big men when healthy. During his career, he has averaged 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.2% from the field. Despite playing 20 games this season with the Dallas Mavericks, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
If the Wizards decide to keep Davis, he can be extremely valuable to their frontcourt. On the condition that he remains healthy, he can provide length and rim protection, along with three-level scoring.
For a team that finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, Washington’s outlook is suddenly far more encouraging. The addition of Young, the presence of Davis, the continued growth of its young players, and, most recently, the drafting of AJ Dybantsa have created a foundation that could make the Wizards one of the NBA’s most improved teams next season.
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