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Washington Wizards: Rival executives believe a full rebuild is coming

By Cem Yolbulan

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 31: Bradley Beal #3 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Washington Wizards look on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Capital One Arena on October 31, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 31: Bradley Beal #3 and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Washington Wizards look on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Capital One Arena on October 31, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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As the Washington Wizards’ revamped front office finally took its final form with three high-level hires in Michael Winger, Will Dawkins, and Travis Schlenk, more details are emerging about the vision of the franchise going forward.

As reported by Josh Robbins of the Athletic, many rival executives in the NBA expect Winger to undertake a full rebuild either this offseason, or within the next year. (subscription required)

There are also important tidbits throughout the article with quotes from new team president Michael Winger. Winger acknowledges the current impediments that prevent the Washington Wizards from being title contenders:

"“I don’t think we’re going to be an overnight title contender; that I’m pretty confident about. And so, if they would rather pursue immediate winning, then they probably do have to pursue that somewhere else.”"

Winger also notes the importance of being patient with the likes of Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis. Stating that he is yet to meet with the players, Winger is not rushing any decisions to trade or let go of any of the stars. He states that he hasn’t crafted an immediate game plan for the franchise for the time being:

"“So, what I really want to do is I want to get to know these guys. If the visions align for being competitive and doing things the right way with a little bit of patience, absolutely there’s a path forward with them.”"

It is difficult to know if Winger is just paying lip service and trying not to lose leverage in trade or contract discussions regarding these players, or if he actually believes there is a possibility of keeping this core. Even if the decision was to run it back with the same team for the start of the season, Winger’s willingness to keep everything on the table and be active could suggest a possibility of in-season trades.

There are major decisions waiting for Winger and his new front office. Kuzma and Porzingis will likely decline their player options and become free agents this summer. Winger might not know what the immediate vision is but he also doesn’t have too much time to figure it out. If the Wizards wait too long and choose the status quo by overpaying Kuzma and Porzingis, they might make things more difficult for them going forward.

It is going to be a fascinating next month for the Washington Wizards. Time will tell whether they pivot immediately this summer, or be more patient with the rebuild. Regardless, the Wizards seem to be in good hands under new management.

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