Is the rebuild over? Dybantsa, Young and Davis give Washington an interesting core — for now
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Washington Wizards
Last season: 17-65, missed playoffs.
COACH: Brian Keefe (fourth season, 43-160).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 21 vs. Milwaukee.
DEPARTURES: G D’Angelo Russell, F Julian Reese, F Cam Whitmore.
ADDITIONS: F AJ Dybantsa, C Deandre Ayton, G Tre Mann.
What to expect
After three straight seasons with under 19 wins, the Wizards finally caught a break when they won the draft lottery and the right to take Dybantsa. Even before that, Washington was making bold moves, acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis in trades last season. Young barely played for the Wizards and Davis didn’t at all, but they’re now healthy and ready for the start of the season. At the very least, those two can take some pressure off Dybantsa and other youngsters like Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: It’s certainly possible that a change of scenery is just what Young needed. On the offensive end, he can be an elite playmaker that opponents must account for, and if he clicks with Davis, Washington could improve significantly. Davis has the potential to revitalize the Wizards at the defensive end, and Dybantsa could be the franchise player Washington has been waiting to acquire for years.
The not-so-good: Davis can become a free agent after this season, and if he’s not interested in staying, the Wizards might end up having to trade him before too long. Young, on the other hand, was signed to a four-year, $212 million extension after playing only five games in a Washington uniform. So the Wizards are committed to him for better or worse. It’s a roster that’s interesting, but there’s no way of knowing how well the fit will end up being — and for how long.
Players to watch
Dybantsa’s development is the most important issue for the Wizards, but the most pressing question from a league-wide perspective is whether Davis can play like a superstar at age 33. If so, Washington could make a climb in the standings — or Davis could become a major trade target for a contender.
Meanwhile, the Wizards traded for Ayton in the offseason. He’s a decent insurance policy in case Davis’ tenure in Washington is a short one, but if everyone is healthy, the Wizards suddenly have some impressive size with the 7-foot Ayton, 7-foot Sarr and 6-foot-10 Davis.
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