Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal’s best option may be to stay put
The Washington Wizards have the pieces to compete
Thomas Bryant increased his inside efficiency to complement an improved scoring average before being sidelined with a torn ACL. He doesn’t figure to return this year, but he’s a future centerpiece whom the Wizards have openly considered one of their main incumbent stalwarts.
Rui Hachimura is slowly blossoming into the player the Washington Wizards drafted him to be and has shown an elite jump-shooting capability that’s becoming increasingly deadlier due to its near impossibility to block because of his elongated wingspan.
And Deni Avdija, while not (and likely won’t be) emblematic of the lofty Luka Doncic comparisons that some distinguished him with, is becoming a solid 3-and-D stretch forward, whose impressive 45.7 percent clip from 3-point range already has the team gawking over his soaring potential.
All men are 23 years of age or younger, and they’re accompanied by battle-tested journeymen like Davis Bertans, who just sunk six threes on a 66.7 percent mark in their last face-off with Phoenix, Raul Neto (8.9 ppg, 42.4 percent from deep) and Robin Lopez.
Winning is the name of the game, and as of right now, the Wizards are vehemently sputtering to do so.
Perhaps a coaching shift is needed. The NBA trade carousel is just taking off, and Washington has a few assets they can dip into that pool to acquire additional ammunition to round out their lineup. And there are tons of free agents just chomping at the bit to receive a phone call from any organization.
But a complete overhaul is the last necessary option if all else fails.
And right now, the Washington Wizards have enough ingredients in place that, if fused correctly, can begin to win some ball games.
That all starts with Bradley Beal’s presence in town though, and as of right now, that’s his best bet.
Time and circumstance could prove otherwise.