3 goals for the Washington Wizards in the 2023-’24 NBA season
Goal No. 3: The Washington Wizards need to focus on developing young stars
An area where they have struggled in the past, player development will be at the forefront of the Washington Wizards plans this season. This should come as no surprise as they are very clearly focusing on a rebuild this season.
However, there may be some disagreement over the best way to develop the young players on the roster. Some believe they should just see what happens while others believe the young players on the roster should be forced into playing in other styles.
Forcing players to play outside their comfort zone is often what makes players go from great to elite. LeBron James was made uncomfortable by the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and it forced him to become one of the most dominant one-man shows in NBA history in response. Giannis Antetokounmpo played point guard early in his career, teaching him how to create for others while driving at the rim with a full head of steam.
It’s clear that this can work incredibly well for stars, but it can also help a young player better understand exactly what their limitations are in the league. This is an area that Jordan Poole really struggled in last season.
This is likely what we will see from them next season. Bilal Coulibaly is already rumored to be playing the two at times this season and Jordan Poole could also see plenty of time at the point guard position in a playmaking role in the latter half of the year.
It’s also likely that we see Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, and Johnny Davis in roles we haven’t seen from them before in the NBA this season. It will be interesting to see what the approach Wes Unseld Jr and the coaching staff elect to take with them.
If the Washington Wizards can accomplish each of these three goals this season, they will be in prime position moving forward to successfully rebuild the roster. This could be the early stages of a championship caliber team if they really hit big.
