Are the Washington Wizards any closer to building a winner around Beal?
By Luke Duffy
Brooks was fine, and Unseld Jr. could yet be really good. But in the case of Brooks especially, it was all a bit meh. That feeling of general malaise is perhaps best exemplified by the depressing fact that in the five seasons before this one, the Wizards have never ever been above league average in either offensive or defensive rating.
On two occasions (2017-18 & 2018-19), they ranked 15th in offensive rating, and once in (2017-18), they ranked 15th in defensive rating. That year, when they ranked average in both categories, the Wizards made the postseason, where they were bounced in six games in the first round by the Toronto Raptors.
So to think that since then it has gotten no better from a statistical standpoint or in terms of drafting future stars is unacceptable. Sheppard is keeping a low profile as he tries to make something happen, and Unseld Jr. still has time on his side to prove he is the right man for the job.
Even their biggest deal since moving John Wall, trading Russell Westbrook, didn’t amount to anything serious to help Beal. They received Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (no longer on the team), Montrezl Harrell (no longer on the team), and the 22nd pick in the 2021 draft (traded to the Pacers). That’s hardly the foundation of a playoff-caliber team.
All of which is to say, the Washington Wizards are no closer to putting a winner around Bradley Beal. They are making the wrong draft picks, not getting a high enough level of free agents, and having people in positions of power that so far do not look like home runs.
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The solid veterans present mean they’re stuck in the middle, watching other franchises pass them out. It is hard to know when, and more importantly, how, this is going to get better for the Washington Wizards.