Washington Wizards: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

The Washington Wizards have a solid rotation gearing up for the 2018-19 season. Here’s a look at three breakout candidates for the upcoming year.

Things looked grim for the Washington Wizards entering the 2018 offseason, but you have to tip your hat to general manager Ernie Grunfeld. He managed to trade big man Marcin Gortat away for a solid piece in the backcourt. Then, point guard John Wall managed to lure center Dwight Howard to sign with the club, giving him arguably the best big man he’s played with in his NBA career.

The Wizards have managed to put together a solid rotation of youth and veteran experience entering the 2018-19 season. Otto Porter Jr. and Wall are both expected to be healthy as well, something Washington wasn’t able to say for much of 2017-18. Markieff Morris started the season with a hernia injury and it went downhill from there.

By season’s end, it seemed like the team chemistry was shot and everybody was ready for a new year. The Wizards fell in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, 4-2, to the Toronto Raptors.

Then, the Raptors traded away DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard. LeBron James is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and no longer part of the East. With so much change in the landscape, there’s sure to be a few breakout performers for Washington. Here’s a look at three breakout candidates for the 2018-19 season.