3 Reasons to be optimistic about the Washington Wizards in the bubble
By Ethan Smith
They Have Nothing to Lose
When NBA action does officially resume within the bubble, the Wizards will have the seemingly impossible task of making the playoffs with a depleted roster. But that doesn’t mean there’s any pressure on the Wizards.
If the Wizards are somehow able to force a play-in game and make it to the playoffs, then great! What a wild and wacky way for this Wizards season to end. The young core, then, would certainly be ahead of schedule, and a John Wall influx in the offseason could be all the Wizards need to battle for the Eastern Conference throne.
If they miss the playoffs, well at least their lottery odds won’t be hurt by any action inside the bubble. If the Wizards miss the playoffs, their lottery odds will lock in based on the standings when the season went on hold. In that case, the Wizards would have the ninth-best odds of landing the top pick in the draft. Hitting big on the right prospect could help the Wizards go from sniffing the playoff race to snuffing out opponents’ playoff dreams in just one offseason.
No pressure, Tommy!
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But either way, the bubble presents the Wizards with the unique opportunity to turn things over to their 25-and-under team. Besides Jerian Grant and Jarrod Uthoff – both of whom were signed to bolster the bubble roster – Ian Mahinmi, Shabazz Napier, and Ish Smith will be the only Wizards over the age of 24. With the rest of the teams fighting for a playoff spot, the Wizards will get a unique, almost tailor-made development camp out of this whole bubble thing.
It’s time to see what the young guys have. At this point, there’s nothing to lose.