Washington Wizards starting lineups: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins

The Washington Wizards hope to break into the playoff this season. These are the locks, the fringe, and the potential break-ins to their starting lineup.

The Washington Wizards are coming off a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season after having made the postseason four out of the five seasons. Their 25-47 record in 2019-20 was their worst mark of the Scott Brooks era and saw the franchise post their lowest win percentage since the 2011-12 season.

The Wizards are determined to make the playoffs in 2021 and have spent the offseason building a roster that can make it there. They got the steal of the draft in Deni Avdija, re-signed Davis Bertans to a five year $80 million contract, and then traded John Wall for Russell Westbrook.

The moves have bolstered the team’s playoff chances and given Scott Brooks a chance to prove that he is the right man to helm the franchise. The importance of making the playoffs have grown in lockstep with Bradley Beal’s rise to become one of the league’s best offensive players.

Superstars don’t languish away on non-playoff teams, let alone non-contenders. The direction of the franchise needs to improve dramatically for him to consider sticking around throughout his prime years.

Scott Brooks needs to get his starting five right and build from there. The Wizards have a few veterans but by and large, the roster is filled with young players on rookie contracts.

With the development of these players being crucial to the franchise’s long-term efforts, Brooks will have to thread the needle as he plays to win now while setting up the team down the line. These are the Washington Wizards locks to start, their fringe candidates who should bounce in and out of the lineup, and some possible break-ins that would be a welcome surprise.