The Washington Wizards have been disappointing, to stay diplomatic, this year. A slew of injuries and poor coaching decisions mixed with draft let downs have cost the Wizards an opportunity to potentially win a championship.
This should have been a year where they look like an unstoppable force armed with numerous recent high draft picks as well as three All-Star caliber players and some solid veteran help. TO add to this, there is no clearly defined best team in the league as every team has a few notable weaknesses that teams can exploit in the playoffs.
Instead, the Wizards could be looking at a season where they are contending for the highly anticipated draft pick that holds Victor Wembanyama. They are probably the second most disappointing team of 2022. Behind the Los Angeles Lakers of course.
There have been many causes for their disappointing play, but the most gut wrenching is the lack of development from their young players. They don’t have a lack of young talent as they still have Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, and Johnny Davis, just to name a few. However, these guys have horribly underperformed this year compared to what they are capable of.
Avdija in particular could be one of those versatile forwards that every contending team needs in the modern era. Yet, he stands in the corner waiting for catch-and-shoot three opportunities despite only shooting 30% from beyond the arc. He needs to be more involved in the offense when he is on the floor due to his playmaking ability and his ability to create shots.
With all the disappointment, there is still a possibility that everything can change with the new year. They are going into 2023 with no major injuries listed past a day-to-day problem. Starting the year off with a strong road trip could be extremely good for this teams confidence.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some things that the Washington Wizards need to do in 2023.