The Washington Wizards are once again languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, stumbling through the season without a clear direction.Â
They hold a dismal 2-16 record, placing them dead last in the East. Unlike teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading their rebuild, or the Toronto Raptors with Scottie Barnes, the Wizards lack a future All-NBA cornerstone to build around. While other struggling teams have potential stars offering hope, Washington seems to be spinning its wheels without a clear path forward.
How They Lost The Westbrook-Beal Duo
Back in the 2020-21 season, the Wizards had a bit of a buzz going. They’d just traded for Russell Westbrook, pairing him with Bradley Beal in a duo that had fans cautiously optimistic. And to be fair, Russ and Beal put in the work. Westbrook averaged an absurd triple-double—22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game—breaking the all-time record for triple-doubles in a season. Meanwhile, Beal was cooking, dropping 31.3 points per game and finishing second in the scoring race behind Steph Curry. That firepower helped the Wizards claw their way to a 34-38 record and snag the 8th seed in the East.
The playoffs, though, were a quick reality check. Washington got stomped by the Sixers in five games in the first round. Sure, they managed to avoid the sweep, but it was clear this roster wasn’t built to go deep. By the offseason, the front office decided it was time to cash in on Westbrook. The Lakers came calling, and the Wizards sent Russ packing in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson.
On paper, it wasn’t a bad haul, but what did they actually do with it? Isaiah Jackson didn’t even get to suit up for the Wizards; his rights were flipped to the Pacers for Aaron Holiday and Isaiah Todd. Harrell had some solid moments off the bench but was traded to the Hornets just a year later for scraps. Kuzma and KCP turned out to be the only real contributors from that deal. Kuzma became a fan favorite and a legit scoring option, while KCP was a reliable 3-and-D guy before he got shipped out in another deal.
Fast forward to now, and what do the Wizards have to show for that trade? Not much. Kuzma stuck around and got a new deal, but the other pieces from that Westbrook trade tree have fizzled out. Meanwhile, Beal was eventually dealt too, leaving Washington without a single All-Star and staring down the barrel of yet another rebuild. What started as a bold move to pair two stars ended with the Wizards back at square one—maybe even further behind.
Drafting Mistakes?
The Washington Wizards’ draft choices from 2019 to 2024 have been a rollercoaster, with some picks showing promise and others leaving fans scratching their heads. Let’s dive into each first-round selection and see how they panned out, along with who they might have snagged instead.
In 2019, the Wizards grabbed Rui Hachimura with the 9th overall pick, making him the first Japanese player ever taken in the first round. Rui had his moments, averaging 13.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game during his stint in D.C. But consistency was an issue, and by January 2023, he was shipped off to the Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. Looking back, someone like Tyler Herro (picked 13th) was still on the board and have since become a near All-Star for the Heat.
The following year, they went international again, selecting Deni Avdija from Israel with the 9th pick. Deni showed versatility and defensive chops, averaging 9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Still, his offensive game didn’t develop as hoped. In June 2024, the Wizards traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon and two future first-round picks. Meanwhile, they had players like Tyrese Haliburton (12th pick) emerge as a true star, making Deni’s selection a point of debate among fans.
In 2021, aiming to boost their shooting, the Wizards picked Corey Kispert at 15th overall. Corey delivered, shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc and averaging 11.1 points per game. While he’s been a reliable floor spacer, his overall impact has been modest compared to players like Alperen Sengun (16th pick) and Herb Jones (35th pick), who have shown more well-rounded games.
The 2022 draft saw Washington take Johnny Davis with the 10th pick, hoping he’d add some scoring punch. Unfortunately, Johnny struggled to find his footing, averaging just 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. In hindsight, selecting Jalen Williams (12th pick) or Tari Eason (17th pick) might have provided more immediate contributions.
In 2023, the Wizards traded up to draft French forward Bilal Coulibaly at 7th overall. With a sophomore season where he is truly showing out for them with 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, Coulibaly’s raw talent might become a great hit in D.C. for the future.
Fast forward to 2024, after a dismal 15-67 season, Washington landed the 2nd overall pick and selected French center Alex Sarr. Alex’s defensive abilities and potential as a two-way player made him an attractive choice. But his early struggles raised concerns, with fans questioning if passing on players like Reed Sheppard (3rd pick) or Ron Holland II (5th pick) was the right move, as he’s currently outside the ROTY race with averages of 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds on just 37% shooting from the field.
The Wizards’ recent draft history shows how inconsistent their choices have been. Sure, a few picks have shown flashes of potential, but way too many have left fans shaking their heads, wondering what could’ve been if they’d gone in a different direction. And honestly, even when they’ve decided to move on from their picks, the return hasn’t exactly been a game-changer.
Take Rui Hachimura, for example. Instead of seeing if he could become something more, they shipped him to the Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and a handful of second-rounders—none of which have turned into anything impactful yet. Deni Avdija? Same story. He was a versatile player. But instead of waiting for his offense to catch up, they traded him to the Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon and a couple of future picks. Brogdon is an expensive expiring deal, and those picks? They’re still just hypotheticals.
The bottom line is, the Wizards have been swinging and missing, not just with who they draft but also with how they handle those players after the fact. If they want this rebuild to go anywhere, they’re going to need to start hitting on their picks—and actually turning trades into something meaningful. Right now, it feels like they’re just spinning their wheels.
Stuck For Too Long With Bradley Beal
The Wizards went all in on Bradley Beal after moving on from John Wall, handing him the keys to the franchise. It was a bold choice, but one that came with a lot of baggage. In 2022, Beal signed a five-year, $251 million supermax contract, which also included a no-trade clause—one of the rarest and most powerful tools a player can have. This meant Beal had complete control over where he could be traded, giving the Wizards almost no leverage in negotiations if they ever decided to move him.
The idea was simple: build around Beal and make him the guy. The results? Not great. From 2019 to 2023, the Wizards were consistently stuck in mediocrity. Their records tell the story: 25-47 in 2019-20, 34-38 in 2020-21 when they barely scraped into the playoffs, and then back-to-back 35-47 seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Beal was putting up big numbers during those years, averaging over 30 points per game in his peak seasons, but the team around him was never good enough to contend for anything serious.
That supermax deal became an anchor. With Beal’s no-trade clause, the Wizards had their hands tied when it became clear they needed to rebuild. They eventually traded him to the Suns in 2023, but the return wasn’t what you’d expect for a player of his caliber. The centerpiece of the deal was Jordan Poole, a guy who struggled in his first season with the Wizards. Poole’s debut season was rough, averaging just 17.4 points on inefficient shooting and showing none of the consistency you need from a potential franchise player. His current season is looking better, but he’s still not the type of player you build a championship team around.
The Wizards bet big on Beal, giving him one of the most player-friendly contracts in league history and hoping he could lead them out of mediocrity. Instead, they stayed stuck, and when it came time to move on, that contract and its no-trade clause made it nearly impossible to get a meaningful return. Now, they’re left with Poole, a handful of average picks, and a long road back to relevance.
And Now… What?
The Wizards are in a bit of a mess right now, juggling hefty contracts and veteran players like Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, and Jonas Valanciunas. Ideally, they’d flip these guys for future first-round picks to kick-start a proper rebuild, but they’ve stumbled along the way.
Take Kuzma, for instance. Last season, he was on fire, averaging 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 70 games. The smart move would’ve been to trade him then, capitalizing on his peak value. Instead, they held on, and now he’s having a rough patch, with his performance dipping and his trade value taking a hit, just scrapping 15.8 points on 42% from the field.
Brogdon and Valanciunas are solid players, but they’re not exactly the future. Moving them for draft assets makes sense, but the market isn’t exactly booming for veterans on sizable contracts. Valanciunas will be available for trade talks after December 15, so he is as good as gone from Washington, but Brogdon’s $22 million expiring deal would be hard to move for a player still coming back and just 7 games played.
The team’s direction is murky at best. They’re in rebuild mode but lack a clear franchise player. Alex Sarr, their recent high pick, hasn’t shown signs of being the game-changer they need. To truly turn things around, they should aim for a top-three pick in the 2025 Draft, targeting talents like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Ace Bailey. Landing one of these prospects could provide the cornerstone they desperately need to build a competitive team.
In short, the Wizards need to make some tough decisions: offload veterans while they still have value and focus on securing top-tier young talent to set a clear path forward.
