With the World Cup over two weeks ago, DNA of Sports is starting its traditional presentation, franchise by franchise, of the upcoming NBA season. Like every year, this takes the form of a countdown, from the teams expected at the bottom of the ranking to our favorite for the champion title. Today, place for Wizardsclearly launched towards this reconstruction which had been reaching out to them for several seasons.
Thus, the new leaders of Washington separated from Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis during the summer, so as to leave the keys to their team to the newly arrived Jordan Poole and to a Kyle Kuzma extended at a high price. Other notable arrivals: those of Tyus Jones and Bilal Coulibaly via the Draft, to complete the collection of young talents already in place (Deni Avdija, Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert, Daniel Gafford, etc.).
However, this young frame, talented but above all fragile, will probably not be enough to bring the Wizards back to the playoffs and to balance, since their faults of last season, in defense or on the interior positions, have not generally not been corrected. But after years of visual navigation, the most important thing will be to lay the foundations of their new project, supposed to bring them back to the heights of the East…
SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals: Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly, Tyus Jones, Landry Shamet, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Departures: Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Monte Morris, Kendrick Nunn, Jordan Goodwin, Isaiah Todd
THE PLAYER TO FOLLOW: JORDAN POOLE
Wandering between the starting five and the bench at Golden State, Jordan Poole will change role – or even dimension – in Washington, because he is expected to be the new offensive leader of the capital franchise. He who, as a starter for the Warriors, casually flirted with an average of 25 points and 5 assists last season!
Responsible for making Bradley Beal forget in an environment where he will no longer have pressure, the 2022 champion will nevertheless have to progress in his attitude and in defense to hope to take his new team to a milestone. The talent is there, and all that remains is to work hard to fully exploit it because, if the luck takes off, the Wizards may have got their hands on one of the future stars of the league…
Average age: 26.7 years
Payroll: $182 million (11th)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
Alongside Kyle Kuzma who does not let up despite signing his new contract, Jordan Poole is a hit night after night and, launched towards the trophy for Progression of the Year, he excels in his role as “go-to- guy” from the Wizards. Wizards who, very focused on attack and much less on defense, became one of the “popcorn” teams of the NBA by signing some significant achievements during the season.
Too talented to squat at the bottom of the rankings, but not sufficiently solid and regular to aim for the Top 8, Washington players can nevertheless believe in the playoffs thanks to their presence until the end in the “playin zone”. The cleanliness in the lead of Tyus Jones helps a lot, as does the successful integration of Bilal Coulibaly, the solidity of Deni Avdija on the wing, the shooting efficiency of Corey Kispert off the bench or even the big slaughter of Daniel Gafford under the panels…
Equipped with a strong rotation, Wes Unseld Jr. manages to get the best out of this vengeful and cheeky group, for his second year as coach and hope is finally reborn in DC
THE WORST SCENARIO
Around a duo Jordan Poole – Kyle Kuzma who monopolizes the leather and makes his stats, but who performs in a vacuum, in particular because of his defensive limits or his lack of rigor, the Wizards very quickly settle out of the Top 10 without managing to get away from it. It’s open house every evening in Washington…
The experience of Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, Mike Muscala, Taj Gibson or the returning Danilo Gallinari is nevertheless beneficial in the locker room, except that the local youth (Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Daniel Gafford, Johnny Davis…) alternates the good and the bad. less good. As for Bilal Coulibaly, he is having a hard time finding his place in this slump.
Clearly, this is a new exercise without flavor (and without playoffs) for Washington, accustomed to occupying the soft underbelly of the ranking in the East for too long. The difference being that, this time, failure is assumed and accepted by the leaders, since the time has now come for (re)construction.
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||
| 15 – Blazers | 14 – Spurs | 13 – … | 12 – … | 11 – … |
| 10 – … | 9 – … | 8 – … | 7 – … | 6 – … |
| 5 – … | 4 – … | 3 – … | 2 – … | 1 – … |
| EAST CONFERENCE | ||||
| 15 – Hornets | 14 – Pistons | 13 – Wizards | 12 – … | 11 – … |
| 10 – … | 9 – … | 8 – … | 7 – … | 6 – … |
| 5 – … | 4 – … | 3 – … | 2 – … | 1 – … |
