So the Wizards are going to be weird to watch right? No more Westbrook, exponentially more Kyle Kuzma, and Spencer Dinwiddie on a rebuilt leg, what are these guys actually going to be next year?
Notable Additions/Subtractions:
Additions: Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (all acquired in trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers)
Subtractions: Russell Westbrook (see above), Robin Lopez (signed with Orlando), Ish Smith (signed with Charlotte)
Projected First Two Rotations:
Starters: S. Dinwiddie, B. Beal, K. Kuzma, R. Hachimura, M. Harrell
Second Unit: A. Holiday, K. Caldwell-Pope, D. Avdija/C. Kispert, D. Bertans, D. Gafford
Last Season’s Record: 34-38 (8th in East), first round loss to Philadelphia
Okay, is everyone ready? What I’m about to post, ripped directly from basketball.realgm.com, pretty much summarizes the notable moves the Wizards made this offseason.
“Chandler Hutchison was acquired by the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the draft rights to Nikola Milutinov and a Swap 2022 2nd round picks. The draft rights to Isaiah Jackson and a TPE were acquired by the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Aaron Holiday, the draft rights to Isaiah Todd and cash. Russell Westbrook, a conditional 2023 2nd round pick (CHI own), a Least Favorable 2024 2nd round pick and a 2028 2nd round pick (WAS own) were acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson. The draft rights to Nikola Milutinov, a More Favorable 2024 2nd round pick, a Swap 2025 2nd round picks and a TPE were acquired by the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday, Kyle Kuzma, the draft rights to Isaiah Todd, a Swap 2022 2nd round picks and cash were acquired by the Washington Wizards in exchange for Chandler Hutchison, Russell Westbrook, a conditional 2023 2nd round pick (CHI own), a More Favorable 2024 2nd round pick, a Least Favorable 2024 2nd round pick, a Swap 2025 2nd round picks and a 2028 2nd round pick (WAS own).”
Hahahahaha.
Isn’t that insane?
When I look at the Wizards roster going into this fall, the team actually looks better than they did last year, at least their starters. It’s a marginally large group, with both guards being 6’5”+, and their frontcourt running mates all around 6’9”. This has the potential to create entertaining run-and-gun scenes, which obviously were present with Westbrook, but some of the other players that spent time in the starting rotation had a tendency to slow the pace. I see a world where Dinwiddie and Beal play off each other very well, and depending on everyone’s health, they could be in the category of a team like Charlotte.
What to call that category; let’s go with “Fun To Watch But Probably Not That Much Of A Threat In A Good Conference But Maybe A Threat A Little Bit”
Love it.
Their second unit has the potential to be a group that scores in bunches as well, although they are a bit of an unbridled group of young guys with unproven defensive potential. Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija will be effective both on the court and spelling each other. Deni is known to slash to the rim more, and has an emerging jump shot and a form that will seemingly translate eventually. Kispert of course being the sharpshooting specialist whose game may be largely what it will be on the professional level, but wasn’t incapable of getting to the rim or creating his own shot.
It’s a tough year for the Wizards to get better, as a lot of the Eastern Conference improved, or at least reloaded in a way that makes sense for the next couple years; but in rounding out their starting lineup, and having a second unit that is able to score in bunches, they could sneak up on a Charlotte or Miami if a team like that isn’t ready for them.
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