- The Washington Wizards went 35-47 last season and missed the playoffs
- Bradley Beal was traded to the Phoenix Suns and Kristaps Porzingis was sent to the Boston Celtics
- The Wizards acquired Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors
The Washington Wizards won only 35 games last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
Washington’s front office made major changes this offseason. Bradley Beal was traded to the Phoenix Suns and Kristaps Porzingis was sent to the Boston Celtics.
The Wizards also acquired Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors. With all the changes to the roster, Washington will have a new starting lineup next season. Let’s take a look at it.
Point Guards
Starter: Tyus Jones
Reserve: Delon Wright
Tyus Jones appeared in 80 games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. He averaged 10.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc, and 80.0% from the free-throw line.
The Grizzlies traded Jones to the Wizards this offseason. Jones, 27, has career NBA averages of 6.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Grizzlies.
Jones is one of the best floor generals in the NBA, as he had 417 assists and only 74 turnovers in 2022-23.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Jordan Poole
Reserve: Landry Shamet
Jordan Poole was “excited” the Golden State Warriors traded him to the Wizards, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN. The Warriors handled the Poole-Chris Paul trade well and Poole is looking forward to playing with Kyle Kuzma on the Wizards. The Michigan product was ready to move on from Golden State after getting punched in the face by Draymond Green.
Poole signed a four-year, $128 million extension with the Warriors in October 2022. The extension kicks in next season. The shooting guard averaged a career-high 20.4 points for the Dubs last season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 87.0% from the free-throw line.
However, Poole wasn’t able to carry over his regular-season success to the 2023 postseason. In 13 playoff games versus the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, Poole averaged 10.3 points while shooting an inefficient 34.1% overall and 25.4% from 3-point range.
According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the Warriors thought Poole was an “extraneous” and “inefficient” member of their roster, which is why they traded him to the Wizards for Paul.
“What’s clear to me after a few days of checking around is that this all began when the Warriors decided that Poole was an extraneous and inefficient member of their roster,” Kawakami wrote. “That was the precipitating issue. The Warriors wanted out of the $123 million deal they gave Poole only eight months earlier because his play last season didn’t meet that value, especially given their extreme luxury-tax pressures.”
Small Forwards
Starter: Deni Avdija
Reserve: Corey Kispert
Deni Avdija appeared in 76 games for the Wizards last season. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 43.7% from the field, 29.7% from beyond the arc, and 73.9% from the free-throw line.
In 212 games with the Wizards, Avdija is averaging 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Power Forwards
Starter: Kyle Kuzma
Reserves: Bilal Coulibaly, Anthony Gill
Kyle Kuzma re-signed with the Wizards on a four-year, $102 million contract. The swingman was linked to the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, and Houston Rockets, but Kuzma wound up staying with the Wizards despite the franchise trading All-Stars Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
Many people in the NBA thought Kuzma would go to the Rockets since Houston had the most cap space. However, Kuzma got a huge payday from the Wizards and their new president, Michael Winger.
Kuzma averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 44.8% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. The 28-year-old was set to make much more on the open market than the $13 million he would have earned next season if he didn’t decline his player option.
A Michigan native, Kuzma has career averages of 16.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists with the Lakers and Wizards. He helped Los Angeles win the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Kuzma will be the No. 1 option on offense next season for the Wizards. It will be fascinating to see if he’s able to garner any All-Star consideration.
Centers
Starter: Daniel Gafford
Reserve: Taj Gibson
Daniel Gafford appeared in 78 games for the Wizards last season. He averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 73.2% from the field and 67.9% from the free-throw line.
Gafford recorded 10 double-doubles. The Arkansas product was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2019. The Wizards acquired Gafford in March 2021.
Gafford has career averages of 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds with the Bulls and Wizards.
