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NBA Daily: From 17-32 to the Playoffs, where are the Washington Wizards going? | Basketball initiates

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NBA Daily: From 17-32 to the Playoffs, where are the Washington Wizards going? | Basketball initiates

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Although the race was quite bumpy, the Washington Wizards nabbed a playoff berth in the 2020-21 season despite starting the year at 17-32. It took some big moves at the trade deadline, a 17-6 streak to close the regular season and a win in the Play-In tournament, but the Wizards managed to advance to the playoffs and steal a seeded Philadelphia 76ers game.

Despite the terrific end to the season, an increasingly important question hangs over the franchise: what’s next?

The first path, focusing on organic growth, is the easiest for the front office to do but could leave the franchise stuck with a first-round exit cap for the foreseeable future. Make no mistake, the Wizards’ second half was phenomenal. Of the team’s six losses after starting 17-32, only one was over four points. Three of those losses were one point. What’s even more impressive is that it all happened without Thomas Bryant or Deni Avdija, two key contributors to the downed squad for the season.

The Washington front office may decide that it liked what it saw of this group and send it back. There is no denying that the riddle of the squad center would be solved by the return of Bryant and Avdija showed enough flashes to be a starting caliber player on a playoff squad. Add Rui Hachimura and Daniel Gafford’s next steps to the equation, and there is a formidable team in the making.

“We are young,” said Russell Westbrook. ” It is important that [the young players] figure out what it’s like in the playoffs. Understand what it’s like to be in combat. Understand what it’s like not to take nights off. And that’s part of my job, to make sure I’m there to make sure it’s instilled in them… With that, we’ve always fought and made it to the playoffs. But understanding the importance of coming back better each year… is important for our group.

The Wizards also have the 15th overall pick in the upcoming draft, which is said to be one of the deepest in recent years. Pick # 15 itself has a complicated history. In recent years, that selection has seen players like Adreian Payne, who is no longer in the league, or Troy Brown Jr., who the Wizards traded this year. On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard have finished 15th overall in the last decade; and the Wizards could land an instant contributor that could add to an already stacked young core.

But the logic of bringing back largely the same team is flawed for several reasons. For one thing, there’s no guarantee that any of the talented young players this list prides itself on will become a tertiary star for Washington. Hachimura is the closest thing, and he’s had a dominant playoff series averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 61.7 percent from the ground, but it’s never a given. .

Plus, the Washington run saw nearly every veteran player on the roster playing their best and that still wasn’t enough to frustrate the Sixers. There’s a big gap between the Wizards and the top playoff teams.

To find out why going back with the same team is a bad idea, look no further than the 2016-17 Miami HEAT. After losing franchise icon Dwyane Wade, the team started 11-30 but finished the year at 41-41 and were ninth seeded. That summer, HEAT got huge contracts awarded to James Johnson, Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk. The team missed the playoffs the following season. While the HEAT returned to playoff form shortly thereafter, Washington doesn’t have the luxury of being a great market team.

While the Wizards have limited space anyway, rewarding players like Robin Lopez, Raul Neto, and Ish Smith with salary increases as a result of their strong campaigns could lead to mediocrity. Pair that with an impending rookie scale extension for Hachimura and long-term decisions on Bryant and emerging role player Anthony Gill, and there’s a swollen cover sheet on the horizon.

And while Washington fought admirably to advance to the playoffs, and the front office has been aggressive in adding talent to Bradley Beal this season, that might not be enough to keep the star there any longer. In fact, Beal didn’t want to talk about the topic following the team’s exit in the first round.

“I’m not even going to think about it or talk about it now,” Beal said when asked if Washington had done enough to convince him to stay. “The most important thing for me is that we fought all year. We did not start the year the way we wanted. It was frustrating for everyone… I’m very optimistic and I persevere in the face of adversity and I think we made it as a team.

“So for me I think we just put ourselves in the best position to win… For the most part I was happy with that. I was excited that we competed and gave ourselves a chance. at the end of the year. We obviously still have to improve. We have a lot of room for improvement at all levels. But so far I haven’t thought of any of that.

Beal has given everything for Washington over the course of his career but hasn’t exactly been rewarded for his loyalty. The additions of Westbrook and Gafford were steps in the right direction, but the front office can’t afford to be complacent this offseason. Keep in mind that Beal and Westbrook have player options for the 2022-2023 season. This means Washington has at most one more season to prove to its stars that it can compete.

This means that changes will be needed this offseason, which could start with the coaching staff. There have been rumors all season long about a potential Scott Brooks departure. However, the players seem happy to have him around.

“Man, that was amazing,” Westbrook said. “You know Scotty has always been close to me throughout my career. Reconnecting with him has been a blessing overall and this year has done a hell of a job. He has done a job that I’m sure the people didn’t think he was able to do it. He kept us together. He encouraged us. He made us fight. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for it, but he deserves a lot of credit for putting us in in a position to succeed… I am so grateful to have a coach who believes and trusts my abilities.

Brooks seemed to be filled with nothing but pride after Washington’s 4-1 loss to the Sixers in the playoffs.

“I love it here,” Brooks said. “There is no decision in my mind. I really like it here. I got to know Ted [Leonsis] and his family and the group of owners. And what I saw in the first three and a half years was amazing. When COVID-19 put the game on hold, that’s when I saw what a large property is. I saw with my own eyes, he made every decision based on our team, our employees, our people. And that’s what a good organization is… I wouldn’t want to move on. I really like it here. I love this city.”

It is also possible for wizards to go starhunting, which they absolutely have the ability to do through trade. If there’s a disgruntled star who matches Beal and Westbrook, Washington has bigger contracts for some of its actors, as well as several young working people to include in potential trades. General manager Tommy Sheppard apparently wouldn’t be afraid to swing for the fences.

“We need to keep adding talent wherever we can, and I think we’ve shown that I’m not afraid to take big swings, ”said Sheppard. Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “We’re not afraid to go out and get players in the trades, to do whatever it takes.”

Normally Washington wouldn’t seem like a great destination for a disgruntled star looking to win, but the franchise has proven it can with its expanding second half of the regular season.

Fortunately for Washington, this season seems to be the year of the small market. Of the teams remaining in the playoffs, five have never won the final. Of the other three, the most recent champion is Philly, who last won in 1983. Add to that the ability to play with two bona fide stars in Beal and Westbrook and Washington looks a lot more appealing than most. think so.

Even if the team is not looking for another star, they have several possibilities to work and build on the edges. Players like Davis Bertans and Bryant have negotiable contracts if need be, and other moves like the one that brought Gafford to the Wizards could be fruitful. However, performing these types of movements will not be the ultimate end for the team.

For most of the last two seasons, even during the playoffs, I felt like Washington’s rotation was constantly on the move. Including the players the team traded, the Wizards had around 18 rotating players in total. This was evident in the playoffs more than anywhere else when the team used four different starting lineups in just five games. If the Wizards hope to take a step forward, if injuries allow it, it can’t happen again.

As previously reported, this seems like Washington’s last chance to prove himself to Beal. With several critical decisions to be made before the end of July, the pressure is officially on for Sheppard and the Wizards.

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