Heading into the 2018-19 NBA season, the Washington Wizards have starkly higher expectations attached to them than in year’s past. Not only is the Eastern Conference weaker than it has ever been in recent memory, but Washington also quietly had a productive offseason that quelled many of their glaring needs.
Of course, the Wizards have come up short of their ultimate goal on multiple occasions in recent years and last season was no exception. Their rollercoaster 2017-18 campaign was capped off by an opening-round series loss to the top-seeded Toronto Raptors, a fitting conclusion for a team that has yet to live up to expectations.
Now the Wizards stare ahead at a future filled with uncertainty. Though their core of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter are locked into long-term contracts for at least the next handful of years, the ceiling this trio possesses continues to be called into question, and rightfully so.
The three have been together for five seasons now and have never reached the Eastern Conference Finals. For how much talent they possess and an often improved collection of role pieces around them, Washington still appears another star away from title contention.
Point guard John Wall himself has been one of the league’s most interesting enigmas since entering the NBA and that was in full display last season. Wall spent a larger portion of his campaign sidelined due to injury, but his performance during their first-round series against Toronto reminded the league how dangerous he could be when locked in.
Wall underwent his third knee procedure since entering the NBA last January but was able to return just ahead of the playoffs. In six games against the Raptors, Wall paired 26 points per game with a playoff-leading assists mark of 11.5 per game. Though he made his fifth All-Star team last season, his impact has been called into question on numerous occasions, especially with backcourt mate Bradley Beal blossoming into a full-blown star himself.
Though the friction in Washington’s locker room seems to be a thing of the past, it will still be intriguing to see how Wall and Beal mesh this season. Beal enjoyed the best season of his career with Wall out of the lineup, but now the two must equate their individual abilities into team success, something the Washington front office has given them supple opportunity to do.
Washington’s wing depth has become deeper than ever, and they also upgraded their lackluster center position in free agency. The Wizards opted to trade away last season’s starter when they dealt veteran Marcin Gortat to the Los Angeles Clippers. Though Gortat still brings some value to a team’s frontcourt, his time in Washington had been long expired.
In return, the Wizards acquired guard Austin Rivers who figures to play a big role off their bench this upcoming season. Rivers started 59 games for the Clippers last season and his versatility which allows him to slot in at either guard position still makes him a valuable asset for the Wizards, even in a contract year. Rivers’ arrival surely trims down the playing time of second-year man Tomas Satoransky though, who served as Washington’s starter last season with Wall sidelined and was impressive for spurts.
Additionally, the Wizards made their splashiest move of the offseason late in the summer by inking Dwight Howard to an affordable two-year deal with a player option. With Gortat out of the picture, it was expected that Washington would open next season with Ian Mahinmi serving as the starter, but instead, they upgraded. Obviously not the same player he once was, Howard still brings a stout, unwavering interior presence. At 32 years old, Howard remains a top-tier rebounder and can anchor Washington’s unit defensively.
(Susan Walsh/ Associated Press)
The Wizards also drafted versatile wing Troy Brown fifteenth overall and bolstered their front court’s rotational depth with a handful of minor signings. Though they lost one of their most valuable bench contributors from last season in Mike Scott, he was replaced by veteran forward Jeff Green. Washington also added big man Thomas O’Bryant and signed free agent Lavoy Allen to a training camp deal.
Center had often been Washington’s weakest link but with that hole addressed, Washington has a much better-rounded starting five than they have in years. With Wall and Beal still comprising one of the most lethal guard tandems in the league, a starting frontcourt of Otto Porter, Markieff Morris, and Dwight Howard should prove to be plenty effective.
A deep bench unit now also follows, as Austin Rivers, Tomas Satoransky, the budding Kelly Oubre Jr., Troy Brown, Jeff Green, and Ian Mahinmi figure to make up one of the better second teams in the league.
But this team could look much different this time next year, as the 2019 offseason will be a critical one for Washington. They have several notable expiring contracts, including Markieff Morris, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jeff Green, Jason Smith, and Austin Rivers. Taking into account that that much roster turnover is a real possibility, the pressure only mounts for Washington to perform this season.
However, with many of their key players in or on the cusp of their primes, it would be foolish to dismiss the hungry and well-rounded Wizards in a putrid conference. Though they might not boast the electric youth or upside of other top clubs in the East such as the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers, this deep Wizards team still serves as one of the scariest dark horses in the entire NBA.
