NFL
By: Melo Williams
The Washington Wizards started off last season hot. For the first month of the season, it appeared as if the Wizards had created the right wizardry in the offseason to have a season better than most predicted. The Washington Wizards were 10-3 with the league’s fourth-ranked defense through the middle of November. Then what appeared as real happened to be a smoke screen, reality set in and the Wizards won only 25 of their final 69 games and finished eight games out of the Play-In tournament in the Eastern Conference and everyone felt Bradley Beal was finished with the Wizards like their season was finished.
In Wes Unseld Jr. second season as head coach, he’ll have a completely different starting lineup than he did opening night last season. The starting lineup Unseld Jr. inherited this year will have vets with playoff experience. The good thing about that is, Coach Wes will be able to coach and teach the younger guys a lot easier because if the vets buy-in, the younger guys will have no choice but to do the same.
The Wizards biggest and main offseason goal was to keep Beal a Wizard. After the way the season ended, it didn’t appear as if Washington had any chance of keeping Beal in the Nation’s Capital, but they managed to somehow and they re-signed Bradley Beal to a five-year $251 million supermax contract.
Washington traded for Kristaps Porzingis in February last season. In the 17 games he appeared in for the Wizards after the trade, Porzingis averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds 2.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. The duo of Beal and Porzingis never played together last season so no one knows what it looks like. However, if the duo can create any chemistry together on the court, and Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis both can return to All-Star form, they could become an interesting one-two punch and lead the Wizards to a sixth to an eighth seed in the Easter Conference making the playoffs.
The Wizards used their 10th overall pick in June’s 2022 NBA Draft by selecting Johnny Davis a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. Last season Davis averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Badgers and was named Big Ten Player of the Year. Wizards felt with Davis skill set he’d be able to come in and contribute right away either on offense or defense or possibly both. Beal and Porzingis will take up most of the shots every night and with Kuzma as most likely the third option scoring shouldn’t be an issue for Washington, so Davis will probably earn his minutes by being a solid role player defender.
The Wizards did fairly decent in the offseason as well strengthening up their roster with guys that fit Unseld Jr. culture he’s building and his system. Washington added Monte Morris, Will Barton, Delon Wright, and Taj Gibson. If the growth and development of Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert and Daniel Gafford has improved it could really change the outlook on this team of how dangerous it can be.
Projected Starters
Monte Morris
Bradley Beal
Will Barton
Kyle Kuzma
Kristaps Porzingis
Reserves
Deni Avdija
Johnny Davis
Daniel Gafford
Rui Hachimura
Corey Kispert
Delon Wright
For some reason, injuries have always plagued the Wizards from what should have been winning seasons to losing forgettable seasons. The Wizards have missed the playoffs in three out of the last four seasons. In 2021 when the Wizards did make the playoffs, Philadelphia beat Washington in five games in the first round.
It’s only a matter of time to see if this team actually fit together on the court and if so, how cohesive can they be as a team to help Washington reach the postseason and not just the Play-In tournament. If there was no season in the past the Wizards looked capable of bouncing back from after a losing season, this can be that season if health and chemistry are on their side.
Washington Wizards will finish the regular season 38-44
The Wizards open up the 2022-2023 season on the road on October 19 vs Indiana Pacers
