Little reason to hope for much this season from the Wizards. With only one playoff qualification in the last six seasons, the franchise is aware that history should repeat itself this year.
But hope is on the agenda in the capital after the recent renewal of the front office.
The franchise, renowned for its numerous internal interferences, wishes to new skin and wants to offer its players better infrastructure. The new “front office”, led by the new president Michael Winger and the new GM Will Dawkins, wishes to modernize its development program, build more intelligently via the Draft and in this sense has chosen a site to build a new training center.
Laudable intentions, as Kyle Kuzma notes: “When I arrived here, there wasn’t really any infrastructure. Everything was done in a hurry. Now everything makes more sense”. An atmosphere that aims to be more professional in order to best welcome three new Wizards, picked up via the Draft last June: the Frenchman Alexandre Sarr, Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Kyshawn George.
Simple but measurable goals
Washington has only one objective or almost this season: that its players have really progressed once the season is over. Aware that the 2024/25 financial year will not necessarily be fun, coach Brian Keefe wants to focus on the details.
“We establish habits of how we want to behave in our training, in our everyday work. We have to get through the season, its difficulties and continue to work on it when things don't go well. The best teams also have their difficult moments during the year ».
The former champion with the Warriors, Jordan Poole, Wizard for a year, advocates patience and wants to focus on the solidarity of the group. “We have to come to work and show up every day. Find a way to be better, whether on the field, in the treatment room or in the weight room. Realize every opportunity and find an advantage in all moments, good or bad”.
Reconstructions are always uncertain and Washington wants to capitalize on its flair and its luck factor, by developing its young rookies as much as possible. In the big defeat against the Celtics on Thursday, the newly arrived Sarr, Carrington and George played 22, 26 and 20 minutes respectively. Clumsy (5/19 shooting between the three of them), the young vintage will have the opportunity to continue to find their bearings on Saturday evening at home, against Cleveland.
