2019-20 Finish: 37-45

 

Season Highlight:

The highlight for the Wizards was most definitely their dream playoff run. Coming from the 7^th seed, no one really expects you to do too much. You’re hoping to win a game or 2, maybe see if you can push the 2^nd seed to 7 and make out like you’re a real shot at the title. But, the Wizards had the whole league cheering for them as they blasted out of the blocks, having limped into the 7^th seed on a 3 game losing streak in the final week, and took down the Hawks in 5 games. Then, they came up against the 3^rd seeded Raptors and had a series for the ages which went to 7, but again prevailed on the back of Devin Booker. The Wizards now had a full head of steam coming into the Eastern Finals, and the support of the league behind them, but the Bulls are in a different league and they stamped out the momentum quick smart. But still, from 7^th on a sub .500 record, to competing in the Eastern Conference Finals!

 

Season Lowlight:

I can’t actually pick a lowlight for the Wizards properly. The way they ended the season really made the whole thing look and feel like a positive story. You could argue that they felt they were a better than .455 team prior to the year, but they still made the playoffs on that record. You could argue that missing Nurkic, and then Capela, for large portions of the year hindered them, but they expected it with Nurk, and then had Capela when it mattered down the stretch, so that cancels out a little too. All in all, the floor was still average at worst from my standpoint.

 

Best Trade:

Wizards send: Terry Rozier, Patrick McCaw and Juwan Morgan
Wizards get: Monte Morris, Gary Harris and Justin Patton

I really like this deal for the Wizards. Rozier is…way overpaid. On paper, 18/4/4 looks like you’re a baller, but no, just no. Turn that into Monte Morris who is consistently one of the higher assist/turnover guys despite limited minutes, and Gary Harris who has a nice all round game.

 

Worst Trade:

Wizards send: Robert Williams, 2022 2^nd round pick and 2024 2^nd round pick
Wizards get: Kevin Knox

Bit of a double edged sword here. In terms of 2k production, Knox actually really helped their team down the stretch with his scoring…but in terms of value when looking at where the players themselves are going, then why are you giving up a really promising looking young big man, AND picks, for Knox who looks like he’s about to fall into China?

 

Other Notable Trades:

Wizards send: Nerlens Noel
Wizards get: 2^nd round pick

Odd one, Nerlens plays well in 2k.

 

Wizards send: Rodney Hood
Wizards get: Ty Jerome

Low level salary dump here. Jerome won’t reach Hood’s level in his career.

 

Wizards send: Yogi Ferrell
Wizards get: Cristiano Felicio, 2020 2^nd round pick (pick 58) and 2021 2^nd round pick

Classic salary dump, accumulate assets.

 

Wizards send: Jusuf Nurkic and Taurean Prince
Wizards get: Clint Capela

Good swap for the now, decent for the future. Saved a lot of cap.

 

Wizards send: Zach Collins, Monte Morris, 2020 2^nd round pick (pick 58) and 2023 2^nd round pick
Wizards get: TJ Warren

Probably an overpay for Warren in terms of overall value, but he’s the most certain player.

Wizards send: Cristiano Felicio, Ty Jerome and 2020 1^st round pick (Pick 24)
Wizards get: Will Barton

Dump Felicio, and get the best player? High five!

 

Wizards send: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Clarke, Gary Harris, Kevin Knox, 2020 1^st round pick (Pick 16), 2023 1^st round pick, 2021 2^nd round pick and 2024 2^nd round pick
Wizards get: Damian Lillard, Nigel William-Goss, Javonte Green, Jarred Vanderbilt and 2020 1^st round pick (Pick 29)

Big value deal going both ways. Lillard on the move, Cavs rebuild. Looks good.

 

Wizards send: Will Barton and 2022 2^nd round pick
Wizards get: Spencer Dinwiddie

Odd move. Barton was always better fit and better value for the Wizards.

 

Wizards send: Spencer Dinwiddie
Wizards get: Larry Nance Jnr, 2020 1^st round pick (Pick 16) and 2022 2^nd round pick

Talk about extracting HUGE value for Dinwiddie!

 

 

Free Agency:

The Wizards actually have 0 free agents this summer. Right now they are simply waiting for the contracts of Naz Reid (highly likely), Javonte Green (somewhat likely) and Dean Wade (how long is a piece of string?) to become guaranteed at some stage, preferably for them I’d imagine after the season starts in the NBA so they become guaranteed here.

 

 

Star:

Devin Booker

There’s a new running mate in town now, but the Book was the man for all moments for the Wiz last year and this is his team until we see if Lillard takes over or not. Devin blasted through teams firing up 28 points a game, 4 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 47/38/96. He's always going to be a liability on defence, but if he’s doing this offensively then who cares?

 

Goat:

The goat in Washington had to be the C spot. They waited all year for Nurkic to come good, only to then trade him finally and have Capela then miss weeks for them too! In the end it worked out alright as they got Capela on the court for the end of the season and playoffs, but for a long while they were having to make do.

 

Draft Grades:

Pick 21 – Desmond Bane
Pick 29 – Xavier Tillman
Pick 39 – Malachi Flynn
Pick 47 – Killian Tillie

A Grade

The Wiz are looking to compete and they drafted as such. All these guys are ready now, even down to Tillie having signed a 2way deal already. Bane is a baller with a Joe Harris outlook. He’s not as versatile a shooter yet, but he’s a shooter none the less. Tillman was an epic defender at college, but size and conditioning issues caused him to fall, but he’s ready right now. Flynn looks like a FVV type, and he’s now in FVV land. They all have NBA roles.

 

The Future:

The Wizards are built to go round again and maybe even better than last year. Their depth will be their achilles heal this year, if they suffer any injury clouds and set backs. Lillard and Booker is as potent as any backcourt tin the league, more-so even! Capela is back and healthy and now they have Nance/Warren filling the forward spots. The bench isn’t bad, but it’s all very young and in need of development and that’s not always what you want to lean on going deep into the playoffs. They’re built perfectly for now and the future though overall.

C: Clint Capela / Tony Bradley / Jarred Vanderbilt
PF: Larry Nance / Naz Reid / Xavier Tillman / Dean Wade
SF: TJ Warren / Javonte Green / Desmond Bane
SG: Devin Booker / Furkan Korkmaz
PG: Damian Lillard / Tyus Jones